Language skills one reason Filipinos are missing out to Indonesians, says attache
The Philippines' top labour representative in the city has urged Filipino domestic helpers to learn Cantonese to help reverse the continuing drop in their numbers as locals turn to Indonesian helpers.
Labour attache Bernardino Julve said the fall in the number of Filipino maids coincided with an increase in the number of Indonesian maids learning Cantonese before they come to Hong Kong.
But Mr Julve also said Filipino maids' attitude of standing up for their rights could have backfired.
They were more likely to complain about their conditions than Indonesians. Some studies also had shown that Indonesian maids were being underpaid.
Immigration Department figures show there were 122,160 Filipino maids in Hong Kong in July, down 33,290, or 21 per cent, from a high of 155,450 in December 2001.
