Hong Kong domestic helpers arrested in crackdown on ‘live-out’ maids

Four foreign domestic helpers were arrested in dawn raids yesterday morning on suspicion of breaking immigration laws by not living in their employers’ homes.

Three minibuses with at least 20 immigration officers descended on Ma Wan village around 7am, accusing the helpers of breaching employment legislation and their contracts.

One Hong Kong resident, understood to be an employer of one of the helpers, was also held for obstructing officers. Immigration officers arrested his wife yesterday afternoon. Both were released on bail.

The employer told the South China Morning Post that the couple wanted to see fair working conditions for helpers.

“Some employers that have a live-in nanny make them work up to 18 hours a day and some I know don’t even get a day off,” the man, who preferred not to be identified because of the ongoing investigation, said.

He said his helper worked 11 hours per day and had two days off a week.

An immigration spokesman confirmed that four foreign domestic helpers were detained on suspicion of making a false representation to an immigration officer.