How migrant domestic workers integrate into Hong Kong families

VOICES How migrant domestic workers integrate into

Hong Kong families

By Evan Yip | Photography by Jake Chan | Layout by Maegan Wang

Many families in Hong Kong employ migrant domestic workers, also known as “helper”, “maid”, or “auntie”. While they may go by different names, domestic workers in Hong Kong serve the same important purpose. They take care of the house, and assist with domestic responsibilities such as cooking, cleaning and serving. Domestic workers also care for the children and elderly of families, naturally forming strong bonds through their selfless work. However, most in Hong Kong take their work for granted, and few are aware of the history of migrant domestic workers and the role they play in Hong Kong society, as an integral part of its social, economic and cultural identity.

Often disregarded and overlooked, migrant domestic workers serve as the backbone of Hong Kong’s economy. These domestic workers allow Hong Kong families to earn dual streams of income, as they convert the typical stay-at-home parent to one that can work full time. They do this by alleviating the pressures of household duties that typically require a family member to devote full time towards. This is significantly beneficial towards women, who are commonly restricted by childcaring duties. According to a study by the NGO Enrich, only 49 percent of mothers aged 25 to 52 choose to work without a migrant domestic worker. However, this number jumps dramatically to 78 percent when they do. In fact, migrant domestic workers are estimated to contribute HK$98.9 billion to Hong Kong’s economy, a staggering 3.9 percent of its GDP (Enrich). This serves as a significant help to increase opportunities for women, benefiting gender diversity throughout Hong Kong. Furthermore, by increasing the opportunity for parents to take jobs, this unlocks further productivity while detracting minimally from the stability of families. Yet, in spite of domestic workers’ remarkable contribution to Hong Kong, there still is a stigma that domestic workers should not be considered “a part of Hong Kong”. Around Hong Kong, there still is a belief that the contributions of domestic workers are negligible, that they are providing a basic service that is expendable. There also is a belief that all money given to them would only go to the economies of countries they came from in the form of remittances. In reality, the contributions of domestic workers far outweigh the expenses they take, benefiting the economy in a selfless way. Additionally, there is an undeniable level of discrimmination against domestic workers of all races, and this is a racial perception many people in Hong Kong are subject to. As ordered by employers, domestic workers are sometimes banned from continuing their religious practices. Cases have surfaced where Muslim women from Indonesia are threatened with an immediate termination of their contracts if ever caught praying or fasting within the home. There have also been reports of segregation and employers demanding that domestic workers use separate showers and wash their clothes in communal areas, under the excuse of costly water bills. Furthermore, the power dynamic between employer and employee makes it near impossible for domestic workers to revolt against these established “rules”. Some employers have even blocked employees from interacting with fellow domestic workers, when around the apartment complex, in some cases even switching or denying a rest day to go out. Furthermore, there has been anecdotal evidence of overt discrimination from Hong Kong citizens. Hong Kong politician Eunice Yung Hoi-yan stated

domestic workers “interrupt the daily lives of the public’’ on their days off, even going as far as labeling them an “environmental hygiene” problem. Indonesian domestic worker Hei Kocho recounts the labeling shopkeepers often have of domestic workers, where a shopkeeper forces her to empty her bags, claiming “Indonesian helpers are often thieves.” She continues to describe how shop staff treat Hong Kong people and Westerners far more kindly, driven by the belief that domestic workers have no money. It is indisputable the prejudice that foreign domestic workers endure at the hands of Hong Kong residents, and inexcusable to treat them differently from anyone else.

The recent surge in Covid cases has only accentuated the divide between Hong Kong citizens and migrant workers. Government ruling has proven to disregard the quarantine situation of domestic workers, if they happen to catch the virus. Domestic workers with covid would be turned away from hospitals, told to quarantine at home. Due to Hong Kong’s law stating domestic workers must share a place of residence with their employers, this would be made difficult. Employers would often turn away domestic workers, citing worry of contagion, and the possible infection of “small children”. In severe cases, employers have even chosen to terminate the contracts of domestic workers. Employers would state that domestic workers “brought this virus to employers… because [they] go out and don’t take care of [themselves]”. Employers have even expressed fear of being around Filipino domestic workers. Cynthia Tellez, general manager at NGO Mission for Migrant Workers, estimates 80% of employers feel no obligation to house domestic workers with covid, and that hundreds of workers have had no choice but to spend nights on the streets, as they battle their sickness. This has led to many sleepless nights, and tears from abandonment, along with the uncertainty of where to go next. Luckily, NGOs such as HELP for Domestic Workers have set up shelters for domestic workers, along with helping them collect $200 USD the Philippines is distributing to women in distress. Ironically, the same employers putting domestic workers in homelessness, often choose to bring them back after a few days. In fact, firing domestic workers due to them being sick is subject to fines in Hong Kong, as Hong Kong’s labor secretary reminded employers. An even more significant factor is the relative shortage of domestic workers, where it may take employers months to find a replacement. This has led to domestic workers who caught covid grudgingly returning to the same employer that fired them, solely driven by the dependence of their families on their salary.

The reason behind the abundance of migrant domestic workers can be traced back to 1974. Then President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marco implemented a labor code, exporting the country’s labor through oversea workers. This was done to relieve the poor economy, reduce unemployment rates, and boost the treasury through remittances. The Philippines quickly became dependent on the labor export market, which brought polarizing results. On one hand, the Philippines’ labor export market became a successful model for developing countries, providing an opportunity for economic growth without needing too difficult skills. On the other hand, it came with its own set of humanitarian concerns, primarily on the conditions and regulations of these migrant workers.

The implementation of the labor code coincided with China’s economic reform, with Hong Kong as China’s biggest investor. Hong Kong’s explosion in economic growth prompted the movement of a lot of labor-intensive jobs towards the mainland. The shift towards more profitable jobs resulted in a labor shortage, thus increasing women’s involvement in the workforce and creating dual income households. This became a suitable destination for migrant workers,

where their services were in demand to mobilize the female workforce.

After September 28th 2019, the minimum wage for domestic workers in Hong Kong became $4,630 per month. The average salary is barely above this number, at $5,144 per month, according to a survey by online agency HelpersChoice. This comes along with HK$1,121 of food allowance, or the employer must provide food. Still, nearly half of foreign domestic workers encounter food deprivation. In terms of working hours and holidays, as of now there is alarmingly no legislation set up. The majority of domestic workers work 13 to 16 hours a day, and 9 percent work even more than 16 hours. By law, the domestic workers are to stay in the employers residence, which leads to many devastating effects from isolation. Domestic workers have nobody to confide in when faced with abuse, with no escape from the employer’s potential mistreatment. Furthermore, the city of Hong Kong is infamous for packed living spaces, often leaving domestic workers to sleep in the kitchen, bathroom or living room.

Overall, the living conditions of domestic workers in Hong Kong are far substandard, some even go so far as to describe it as “modern slavery”. Domestic workers often are subject to mistreatment, including physical, verbal and sexual abuse. In fact, a reported one in six of these domestic workers are in situations constituting forced labor.

Due to the compromising position domestic workers are in, they are often vulnerable to legal exploitation by employers and agencies alike. Because domestic workers are required to stay in their employers residence, they have no safe place to avoid any abuse they may face. Foreign domestic workers are also not eligible for residency, no matter how much time they work in Hong Kong. This separates the rights of domestic workers from all other jobs in Hong Kong, denying workers access to public services and contributing to their social divide and discrimmination. Another consequence of this is after the termination of domestic worker contracts, they must find work within 14 days otherwise they are forced to leave Hong Kong. This rule is criticized for discouraging domestic workers to terminate their contract, despite the detrimental conditions they may be in, putting a lot of leverage in the hands of the employers. Additionally, foreign domestic workers are often deprived of the right to healthcare–while the standard Employment Contract requires the providing of healthcare, such as public healthcare services, employers frequently bypass this by terminating their contract instead of paying these health services. The root of this problem comes from the fact that domestic workers are trapped by a perpetual fear of losing their jobs. This leads to an extreme reliance on employment agencies as the only means to put food on the table for themselves and family back home, resulting in large amounts of debt and agencies illegally overcharging for services. Domestic workers’ unease over getting fired and how they would pay their high amounts of debt, also leads to far fewer reports of employers for their abuse.

Foreign domestic workers are being placed in exceedingly compromising positions, as they are forced to balance their well-being with the need to remain employed and provide for their families. This is only exacerbated by systemic and legal obstacles that exploit their desperation to save money and cover up for poor treatment.

In order to understand and motivate change towards the treatment of domestic workers in Hong Kong, one must understand the importance that domestic workers serve, above just caring for the home. One must appreciate and recognize the unique culture they infuse to Hong Kong’s present identity.

If one chooses to roam the streets of Hong Kong on Sundays, they will be met with an abundance of invigorating sights, sounds, and smells. These areas are infused with life and color in the typically stern urban district of Hong Kong, modeling after the Filipino capital city of Manila. As one moves from one area to another, an outflow of food and fashion, music and dance gives a truly dynamic sensory experience. Smaller groups and communities are formed, such as the pop fanclub “Jadine Lovers HK”. This group of domestic workers had formed through online meetings, choosing to spend their Sundays exploring Hong Kong as a collective of Jadine fans, a Filipino pop duo. Groups like these help foreign domestic workers find a supportive community away from home, forming close bonds through a mutual interest. While most domestic workers choose methods of expression through singing, dancing, and cooking, there are also those who flaunt their individuality in different ways. One

domestic worker, Xyza Cruz Bacani, chooses to explore her passion in photography. At the age of 19, Bacani came to Hong Kong as a domestic worker to provide education for her siblings. Aided by her employer, Bacani purchased her first single-lens reflex camera, gradually working her way into a full-time photographer. Bacani takes particular interest in documenting migration and the intersections of labor and human rights, using the visual medium to express her concerns over this issue. Bacani has earned many prestigious awards for her work, recognized by the BBC’s 100 Women of the World 2015, Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2016, working alongside Hong Kong prides itself on cultural diversity, and must extend it to the lively and broad community of migrant domestic workers. As we are privileged to be in the care of domestic workers, we must understand their tremendous contributions to Hong Kong, and accept them as a part of the social, economic and cultural identity. Our acceptance of migrant domestic workers must expand on just the employer to employee dynamic, becoming a citywide embracing of the migrant domestic worker community.