Minimum wage for Hong Kong’s domestic workers to rise 2.4 per cent to HK$4,310, but union says level is ‘not liveable’
Domestic helpers express disappointment with the decision, having pushed for a HK$5,000 minimum salary
The minimum wage for domestic workers in Hong Kong will rise from HK$4,210 to HK$4,310 per month – a 2.4 per cent increase.
The raise is the same as the amount they received last year.
But domestic helpers are disappointed with the decision, having pushed for a HK$5,000 minimum salary.
The government announced the latest increase on Friday.
“That’s very far from what we were expecting, especially considering that our demand was reasonable,” Dolores Balladares, spokeswoman for the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body, said. “We are not happy and we wonder how the government came up with those figures ... This is not a liveable wage in Hong Kong. It’s not enough.”
According to the law, employers are expected to provide accommodation and free food – or a food allowance – for domestic workers. The allowance will also be increased – by HK$42, or 4.2 per cent – the government said on Friday. This means employers should not pay less than HK$1,037 per month for food allowances. Workers had asked for a minimum of HK$1,600.