A coalition of Asian migrant worker organizations launched a comprehensive campaign Thursday, pressing the Hong Kong Central Government to address critical labor conditions for domestic workers from across Southeast Asia.
The Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB-IMA HKM), representing workers from Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, unveiled its “3Ws” initiative targeting living wages, working hours, and workplace conditions.
The campaign centers on three key demands: a living wage of HK$6,172, regulated working hours, and improved living arrangements for the city’s estimated 300,000 migrant domestic workers.
“Current conditions are unsustainable,” said a spokesperson for AMCB-IMA HKM. “Workers routinely endure 16 to 20-hour workdays without proper rest or compensation.”
Current data suggests that 60% of migrant domestic workers lack private sleeping spaces, highlighting the urgent need for systemic reforms.
The organization is calling for specific contract modifications, including mandated 11-hour rest periods between workdays, a monthly food allowance of HK$3,123, and optional live-out arrangements.
As Hong Kong grapples with rising living costs and inflation, migrant workers are demanding recognition of their essential contributions to the city’s household economies.
The government has not yet responded to the campaign’s proposals.
