Migrant domestic workers demand 21% wage hike to HK$6,172, reject calls for pay freeze

Domestic workers in Hong Kong are demanding a significant 21% wage hike, from HK$5,100 to HK$6,172 per month, to better cope with the ongoing inflation in the city. This demand was made at a recent rally outside the Labour Department, with the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB) also calling for an increase in the monthly food allowance from HK$1,236 to HK$3,123.

The spokesperson for the AMCB, Sringatin, emphasized that the wage increase was necessary to ensure that domestic workers could live with dignity and decency in the face of persistent inflation. She pointed out that the Minimum Allowable Wage had only increased by a meager 39% over the past 25 years, from HK$3,670 to the current HK$5,100.

The coalition representing migrant worker unions and associations also rejected claims made by employer groups that wage hikes would lead to mass layoffs. They insisted that the care services provided by domestic workers are irreplaceable, as they have been supporting households and caring for the elderly for decades. The AMCB strongly rejected calls for a pay freeze, arguing that the care services offered by domestic workers are essential for the functioning of double-income households.

However, the AMCB cited several reasons for the wage increase, including job insecurity, long working hours, the vulnerability of domestic workers to abuse due to the mandatory live-in arrangement, and ongoing exploitation by recruitment agencies. They emphasized that domestic workers must live with their employers, a situation that can enable abuse, and called for full legal protection and decent working conditions for these workers.

The coalition vowed to continue fighting for a living wage, legal protection, and decent working conditions until these deep-seated issues are resolved.