I REFER to the letter from Mr Wilfred Wong regarding ''unscrupulous domestic helpers'' (South China Morning Post, August 9). Clearly, Mr Wong has little knowledge of the workings of the Labour Tribunal system in Hong Kong.
The fact is that the Labour Tribunal is an extremely slow way for domestic helpers to secure justice in labour disputes, a fact recognised by the Judiciary Administrator's department which is making strenuous efforts at present to improve the system.
Of the hundreds of terminated domestic helpers who have graced the office of Helpers for Domestic Helpers over the last seven months, the vast majority have actually to be talked into pursuing a legal claim, because they know full well that it will be a long time before their claims are settled, and they do not wish to make trouble for their employers. All the majority want is to be able to process a new contract without being sent back to their country of origin, in order to continue to support their families back home. This makes it more likely that they will drop the claim against their ex-employer and simply apply to process a new contract.
Mr Wong is, therefore, quite wrong when he suggests that terminated domestic helpers use the legal system in order simply to stay in Hong Kong. He is also wrong in suggesting that Hong Kong's Labour Tribunal is in any way lenient towards the employees. To suggest so is a gross misrepresentation of the judicial professionalism of its presiding officers and other staff, who strive to ensure justice and equality for both parties involved in a dispute.
Mr Wong is furthermore wrong, when he suggests that the Immigration Department is lax in allowing domestic helpers to process new contracts while involved in disputes. The rule quite simply is that they will not allow anyone who is waiting for a conciliation meeting at the labour relations service to process a new contract. Only when the claim has reached the stage of the Labour Tribunal, or has been abandoned by the employee will the Immigration Department even begin to consider whether to process a new contract.
JAMES MILLER for Helpers for Domestic Helpers
