Pinay helpers in HK report abuse, want 'live in' rule junked
July 26, 2013 | 12:28pm
MANILA, Philippines - A group of domestic workers in Hong Kong called for the the scrapping of the country's living-in policy.
The Mission of Migrant Workers said that domestic workers living with their employers are prone to all types of abuse.
"Domestic workers are chosen because they can do full-time work for a fixed monthly wage, not because they are live-in," the group said.
In a survey conducted by the group on 1,218 Filipino domestic workers, 736 or 60 percent reported experiencing abuse while in their employers' homes.
Of the 736, a total of 453 said they experienced verbal abuse, 198 reported being abused physically while 18 said they were sexually harassed.
Cynthia Tellez, the group's general manager, explained in a report that many female Filipino domestic staff share rooms with men or sleep in the kitchen, corridors and even washrooms.
Under the standard employment contract in Hong Kong, it is considered an offense for workers to live outside their employers' homes with free food an allowance.
Last Tuesday, six helpers living in Nim Shue Village near Discovery Bay were arrested for violating the rule.
Live-in arrangements also make workers vulnerable to long working hours, unsuitable accomodations and insufficient food provisions, a primer released by the group said.
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