Hong Kong’s domestic helpers, often said to be the engine behind the middle class workforce, are regularly in the news, but sadly, rarely for anything too positive. We’ve all heard the stories of employer violence, poor working conditions and violations of personal and working rights, but do you know how deep the problem really goes?
Looking to make a difference are Jan Kokavec and other business law students who’ve put together a video to bring these issues to the forefront of social consciousness and to help make the lives of foreign domestic workers in the city as stress-free as possible.
We really want to spread the word and show you the video, but these guys have got some silly privacy rules, so you can click here to have a watch!
The video explains how domestic workers have to pay excessive training fees before leaving behind their homes in search of work. Gloria, a Filipino domestic worker who is interviewed, says she paid almost HKD30,000 before coming to Hong Kong.
What’s worse is that many women are forced to take out loans, which are often issued by under-the-table shadow banking firms – something the Hong Kong government is apparently aware of but turns a blind eye to.
Faced with heavy monthly debt payments and high interest rates, some of these workers then spend their only day off (Sundays) working in order to make ends meet.
On top of this, many face abuse at the hands of their employers, but most choose to suffer in silence for fear of losing their jobs.
What’s perhaps most shocking is how unaware some Hongkongers are about all this. As one HKU student says, “I don’t quite know about that”.
However, hope is not completely lost! Nick Rayl, a slightly awkward guy featured in the video, puts forth some of the team’s ideas.
He proposes creating a government organisation through which helpers can seek legal assistance anonymously so as not to jeopardise their jobs if they reach out.
He also suggests that the Hong Kong government make employment agencies accountable for all legal breaches to the tune of HKD100,000, and that the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA) should investigate all claims of violation and file for legal proceedings on behalf of the claimant.
Finally, Rayl insists that change must start with regular Hongkongers. “Get informed, talk to your friends, take action”, he urges.
Well, you’ve just gone some way to achieving step one, so let’s keep it going!
