Hong Kong government issues draft code of conduct for domestic helper agencies
Labour minister Matthew Cheung warns that the code will be turned into legislation if agencies fail to comply with its requirements
In an attempt to crack down on malpractices among employment agencies for domestic helpers, the Labour Department has issued a 100-page draft code of practice setting out a list of standards the city’s 1,400 agencies must meet.
While the code is not legally binding, the department has made clear in the code that the labour commissioner is granted power under the Employment Ordinance to revoke agency licences if the bosses are considered unfit to operate their businesses.
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In deciding whether a licence should be revoked, the commissioner takes into account whether the agency boss has adhered to the standards listed in the code.
“The code is a giant step forward. Many people are concerned about the protection of domestic workers and employers, as well as the agencies’ mode of operation. That’s why we have spent quite some time to draft this code,” Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung told members of the Legislative Council’s manpower panel on Tuesday.
“If the code turns out to be ineffective, we do not rule out the possibility of legislating [it]. That means it will become mandatory.”
Cheung said he aimed to legislate the code two years after it came into practice if it turned out to be ineffective.
