An Indonesian migrant group says almost all of its members work 16-hour days, two-thirds do not have statutory holidays off and more than half have just one day off a month.
Indonesian Migrant Workers Union chairwoman Sringatin said many were also underpaid because of unfair packages forced on them by employment agencies that took a HK$21,000 fee. If they changed jobs, they would have to pay the fee again, making it difficult for a helper to leave a harsh employer.
But Ms Sringatin, who has worked in the city for six years, said Indonesians still came because there were more jobs here and the application process was easier than elsewhere.
She believed Indonesians would soon outnumber Filipinos as the city's largest domestic helper group. They had an advantage in Hong Kong because many Indonesian workers could speak Cantonese, she said.
Neonila Baojo, a member of the executive committee of the Filipino Domestic Workers Union, said it was common for domestic workers to be required to work during their rest hours without pay, and many were required to finish chores before they could take a day off.
But Ms Sringatin said the situation was often worse in the case of Indonesian workers. 'Almost 98 per cent of our members work 16 hours a day, and only 1 per cent work an eight-hour day,' she said. 'Sixty-four per cent do not have statutory holidays and weekly rest days; 56 per cent of them have one day off a month.'
