Migrant domestic worker advocates are strongly opposing a recent proposal by the Quadripartite Alliance for Harmonious Employment Practices and the International Domestic Service Industry Development Federation to freeze the Minimum Allowable Wage and food allowance for migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong.
The groups said the proposal would penalize one of Hong Kong’s most vulnerable labor sectors at a time when workers are already facing rising costs and difficult working conditions.
Hong Kong is home to more than 390,000 migrant domestic workers, many of whom remain vulnerable under existing labor regulations. Advocates said migrant domestic workers should not be treated as economic scapegoats for inflation, weak public welfare policies or broader economic pressures.
“We acknowledge that this is a difficult time for everyone, including employers and workers, amid a global economic crisis,” the statement said. “However, the wage level of migrant domestic workers remains a serious concern.”
The current Minimum Allowable Wage for migrant domestic workers is HK$5,100 per month. Advocates said that, based on a 16-hour workday, the wage amounts to about HK$10 per hour, far below Hong Kong’s statutory minimum wage of HK$43 per hour for local workers.
They also said migrant domestic workers are under growing financial pressure because of inflation in Hong Kong and rising costs faced by their families in their home countries.
“For many years, migrant domestic workers have been subjected to extremely low wages, compounded by the Hong Kong government’s refusal to meaningfully improve their living and working conditions,” the statement said. “Their contribution to Hong Kong society is often overlooked.”
The advocates said a wage freeze would effectively amount to a pay cut and would push more workers into financial hardship and debt. They said the current monthly wage already falls short of what is needed to live with dignity in one of the world’s most expensive cities.
The statement also criticized employer groups for using what advocates described as flawed arguments and fear-based claims to justify the proposed freeze. They rejected comparisons between migrant domestic workers’ wages and civil servant salaries, saying such comparisons ignore the low baseline from which domestic workers are paid.
Advocates also criticized warnings of mass layoffs, calling them scare tactics intended to discourage migrant workers from demanding higher wages and improved working conditions.
The groups called on the Hong Kong Labour Department and the public to reject the proposed freeze on wages and allowances. They also urged the government to address inflation, low wages and the economic difficulties faced by both local and migrant workers.
“Migrant domestic workers are dedicated laborers who deserve dignity, fairness and a living wage, not systemic exploitation,” the statement said.
For reference: SringAtin, telephone 6922 0878.
