Labour sets up 24-hour hotline for FDHs

Labour Department office in Central (Source: Google Maps)

The Labour Department (LD) has set up a dedicated hotline to provide support for foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) starting today (December 19). The hotline number is 2157 9537.

The LD said the hotline would provide one-stop support services to FDHs, including providing advice to FDHs on their employment rights and obligations under the Standard ​Employment Contract and relevant labour laws.

It could also be used to ​refer any enquiries, requests for assistance and complaints on relevant labour ​matters, such as employment claims or complaints against employment agencies, to the relevant divisions of the LD for follow-up or investigation.

FDHs could also call if they want to seek advice on the appropriate law enforcement agencies to which they can file enquiries, requests for services or assistance, and complaints involving suspected exploitation or physical abuse.

“The hotline is manned by operators of the 1823 hotline service who are conversant in Cantonese, English and Putonghua and which operates 24 hours a day,” the LD said in a statement.

It said an interpretation service in seven languages (namely Tagalog, Bahasa Indonesia, Thai, Nepali, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu) is available from 8am to 10pm, Monday to Sunday (excluding public holidays).

Apart from calling the hotline, FDHs can also make enquiries about their employment matters in Hong Kong and file complaints when their employment rights are infringed through the dedicated FDH email account (fdh@labour.gov.hk) and the online form on the FDH Portal (www.fdh.labour.gov.hk) of the LD.

“To report a crime or during an emergency when one’s personal safety is at risk, the FDH should immediately call 999 for help,” the LD added.