TAGALOG WAS ONCE the dominant cadence. But the chatter of domestic workers gathered at parks and in public squares these days is just as likely to carry lilting Indonesian tones. Helpers from Indonesia are fast overtaking the army of Filipino women who have cooked, cleaned and cared for Hong Kong families since the 1970s.
'I wouldn't be surprised to see Indonesian domestic workers outnumber Filipinos, one day,' says Anita Ho Siu-ling, general manager of Overseas Employment Centre.
It's a remarkable turnaround. According to Immigration Department statistics, there are now 105,320 Indonesian helpers compared to 120,800 Filipinos, comprising 45 per cent and 51 per cent of foreign domestic workers respectively. That's a huge jump from 1993, when the 6,100 Indonesians made up just 5 per cent of the helpers, and Filipinos 87 per cent.
Placement agencies credit the surge of Indonesian domestics to changing preferences and needs of local families. Employers often cite Indonesians' aptitude for Cantonese for hiring them, says Ho. Although training provided by agencies just gives them a rudimentary grasp of the language, it's enough to give the Indonesians an edge with employers looking for someone to care for elderly family members.
'They have a gift for language, and a greater willingness to learn because they know they have to make an extra effort to be competitive,' Ho says.
Filipinos have long been favoured by young families seeking greater English exposure for their children.
