Sun calls pay rise for domestic helpers reasonable

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun stated on Saturday that a 2.35 percent raise in the minimum wage for Hong Kong's foreign domestic helpers is a fair adjustment. This announcement followed the government's decision to increase the minimum wage by HK$120, bringing it to HK$5,220 per month. Sun explained that the decision was based on a thorough review of economic performance, employers' incomes, and inflation rates.

He noted that such adjustments could be made during tough economic times, as seen during the pandemic, but also during periods of strong economic growth. Sun emphasized that the current economic performance exceeds the previous year's figures, making the adjustment a balanced approach. He also mentioned a new welfare data sharing platform that will be launched as part of the city's first Five-Year Plan, aiming to consolidate data from various departments to identify high-risk individuals.

This platform will initially use data from the Social Welfare Department, Housing Authority, and Hospital Authority, with input from non-governmental organizations in the future. Sun assured that strict privacy protections would be in place, and participation in the platform would be voluntary, with the hope of earlier intervention and support for those at risk.