Is Hong Kong beating Singapore, Taiwan in attracting foreign domestic helpers?

Hong Kong is more competitive in attracting foreign domestic helpers than Singapore and Taiwan, especially in terms of pay and legal protection, but weakened demand in the city may drive new migrant workers to seek opportunities in other markets, industry insiders have said.

The comparison came after migrant workers’ groups called for a 30 per cent pay rise for helpers in the city to HK$6,500 (US$828) a month and for their food subsidy to be doubled to HK$2,700. The groups also blamed current government policies for leaving many helpers in a “hungry and malnourished” condition.

“Hong Kong employers, in general, pay higher than in other places and workers enjoy better legal protection,” said Mike Cheung Chung-wai, president of the Overseas Employment Centre.

“The population of domestic helpers is also high in the city, which can make them interact and establish bonds with each other easily.”

As of 2024, a total of 368,000 foreign domestic workers were in Hong Kong, accounting for a 10th of the local workforce and representing an 8 per cent decrease from their peak population of 399,000 in 2019.

In comparison, Taiwan and Singapore had 214,500 and 301,600 domestic workers, respectively. The number in Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, reached almost 4 million, but it included a wide range of professions, such as housekeepers, drivers and cooks.