FDHs ask for $5,000 minimum wage

Foreign domestic workers march in Victoria Park on Labor Day to demand a $5,000 minimum monthly wage and regulated working hours.

It’s that time of the year again.

A group of Filipino domestic workers is asking the government to increase to $5,000 the minimum allowable wage (MAW) for foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong.

Dolores Balladares, chair of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK), said they would ask for a $790 wage hike for FDHs at the Labour Department on Monday (August 15).

“This Monday na ang consultation na pinatawag ng Labour. Isa’t kalahating oras (ang consultation meeting). Nagtawag na sila ng mga migrant groups. Our demand is $5,000,” Balladares said in an interview.

She said her group conducted a study which showed that foreign domestic workers should get $5,334.91 to meet their basic needs while living in Hong Kong.

“However, we are asking for $5,000 a month because we are considering the wage of local workers/employers has not significantly increased in the past years,” Balladares said.

“Siyempre, unlike before the yung mga rich lang ang may kasambahay, ngayon marami na ring mga employer na hindi mayaman, she added.

Balladares said the study considered the rising cost of living in Hong Kong, the working hours of domestic workers, and the need for a” living wage.”

“Tumaas ang inflation so nagtaasan ang binabayad namin sa transportation, pagkain, at iba mga gastusin para sa personal necessities,” Balladares said.

“Yung isang meal aabot na sa $50 wala pa duon yung inumin,” she added.

Balladares said that even local workers were asking for an increase in their salaries because of the rising cost of living.

“Tumataas kasi talaga yung cost of living dito sa Hong Kong,” she said, adding that foreign domestic workers also work long hours.

“That is why we are also campaigning for regulated working hours kasi talo talaga kami lalo na live-in karamihan sa amin,” Balladares added.

However, it remains to be seen if the government is going to give in to the workers’ demands especially since Hong Kong’s economy is said to be in its worst time in the last 20 years.

The government last increased the MAW for foreign domestic helpers in September last year when it was raised from $4,110 to $4,210 per month.

It also increased the food allowance for FDHs from not less than $964 to not less than $995 per month. Employers may either give their FDHs free food or the food allowance.