Foreign Domestic Helpers In Hong Kong
Foreign domestic helpers (Chinese: 外籍家庭傭工) in Hong Kong are foreign domestic workers and housemaids employed by Hongkongers, typically families. They make up approximately 3% of the population of Hong Kong and an overwhelming majority of them are women. In 2010, there were 284,901 foreign domestic helpers in territory, of which 48% were from the Philippines, 49.4% from Indonesia, and 1.3% from Thailand. They usually live in their employer's residence and perform various household duties such as cooking, cleaning, dishing, washing serving and child-minding. Many of them have to wear a uniform.
Since October 2003, the employment of helpers has been subject to the Employees' Retraining Levy totalling HK$9,600 for the duration of a two-year contract. It is unpopular with employers and helpers alike and there have been repeated calls for its abolition. Controversy resulted from "official muddle and civil-service clumsiness" of a two-year waiver of the levy announced by Chief Executive Sir Donald Tsang on 16 July 2008. The administrative errors were denounced by the newspaper editorials of all allegiances.
Read more about Foreign Domestic Helpers In Hong Kong: Common Terms, History, Employment Regulations, Employees' Retraining Levy Waiver Controversy, Grievances
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