Migrant workers’ groups slam Hong Kong government for excluding domestic helpers in second batch of consumption vouchers
- ‘I think it’s a pattern that shows how the Hong Kong government treats domestic helpers,’ spokesman for Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body says
- Criticism follows decision to expand scheme to include people eligible for permanent residency
Migrant workers’ groups have slammed the Hong Kong government for excluding some 400,000 domestic helpers in the second disbursement of HK$5,000 (US$637) in consumption vouchers after authorities said they did not have enough financial resources to cover the community.
The criticism follows Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s announcement on Monday to expand the scheme to include those eligible for permanent residency, adding an extra 300,000 people and pushing up costs by HK$1.7 billion to HK$68.1 billion.
Foreign talent, entrepreneurs and students can apply to receive half of the scheme’s total of HK$10,000, but Chan stopped short of extending it to those who do not qualify for permanent residency. This includes domestic helpers, many of whom come from Indonesia and the Philippines.
Eman Villanueva, a spokesman for the Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body, said the union had appealed to authorities to provide more financial aid to helpers since the onset of the pandemic.
He added that helpers had been excluded from the handouts, and that he believed officials had not taken the union’s appeals seriously.