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Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kongi

Since the 1970s, foreign domestic workers have been permitted to stay in Hong Kong to address the city's shortage of local, full-time live-in helpers.

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  • Employer Rita Choy allegedly ignored domestic helper Joan Sarmiento Guting after her cancer diagnosis and refused to provide her with sufficient food
  • Guting was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2017 and died a year later after she returned to the Philippines
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An exhibition in Hong Kong recalls the southern Chinese women, often forgotten today, who chose not to marry and instead became carers for the children of families in the city, in Singapore and elsewhere.

From Hong Kong’s labour unions highlighting the cases of seriously ill domestic workers to why ultra-processed foods are bad for you, here are stories you may have missed over the weekend.

Helpers and labour unions cite cases of employers sacking domestic workers who develop serious health conditions and forcing them to leave Hong Kong.

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Readers discuss the hardships of migrant domestic worker mums, the call for the government to avert the property downturn, and the policy allowing more non-local students to enrol in Hong Kong universities.

Filipino director Cathy Garcia-Sampana’s Hong Kong-shot film Hello, Love, Goodbye put her on the city’s radar. Now, her new short film is showing the city’s artistic and cultural sides.

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TEDxTinHauWomen, on November 14 at Hong Kong’s Xiqu Centre, will include talks on improving health through strength training, building domestic helpers’ courage, and the latest femtech advances.

MeHeal, a new counselling service set up by a Hong Kong charity, provides free mental health support for domestic workers who fear losing their jobs if employers see them as vulnerable.

Topic enters public spotlight after Muslim domestic helper files a HK$255,000 lawsuit against her former employers, accusing them of demanding she stop observing faith.

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Kim, who was sexually assaulted by her former employer’s husband in Hong Kong, received invaluable legal help from Justice Without Borders after returning to the Philippines.

Photographer Gretchen So set out to tell positive stories about Hong Kong’s foreign domestic helpers, snapping them dressed up, dancing together, sharing food and learning skills on their day off.

Indonesia’s migrant protection agency said nearly 2,000 Indonesian migrant workers had died as a result of abuse, accidents, or illness since 2020.

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Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun says Indonesia has clarified ‘no change to cost structure of fees’ following revised rules for hiring helpers.

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Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body and Hong Kong Federation of Asian Domestic Workers Unions want monthly wages raised to HK$6,016 and HK$6,228, respectively.