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Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong

Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong
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.
Domestic workers gather around tents in Tsuen Wan on their day off on May 24. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Hong Kong workers/labour rights

Editorial | Hong Kong’s domestic workers deserve dignity and cool comfort too

Inclement weather is making life harder for domestic workers who already lack places to rest and face restrictions on using air conditioning.

Hong Kong society

With fewer public spaces for Hong Kong’s helpers, where can they go to unwind?

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Hong Kong

Hong Kong helpers urge employers to relax ‘air-con ban’ in heatwave

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Accidents and personal safety

Helper injured, 2 cats die in Hong Kong fire linked to pet water dispenser

Investigators suspect blaze was triggered by electrical fault – such as a short circuit or overheating – linked to pet water dispenser or its charger.

Firefighters try to revive the cats. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong

Hong Kong helpers cry out as popular garden in Central to close for underpass work

Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body says closure of Statue Square Gardens will affect helpers as it serves as vital social hub every Sunday.

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Hong Kong society

Editorial | Tightened rules for Hong Kong’s money lenders will protect helpers

Moves to regulate the moneylender sector must be accompanied by strengthening law enforcement and stepping up education efforts.

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Hong Kong

Will Hong Kong’s lending clampdown wean helpers off debt – and save their dreams?

NGOs say regulations should not be so strict that they deny domestic helpers access to loans since they may have legitimate needs such as family emergencies.

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
Hong Kong

‘Nowhere to go’: helpers pushed out of parks spend day off in tents at bus terminus

Helpers in Hong Kong describe difficulty of finding places they can gather after some online posts suggested visitors were setting up tents.

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Women and gender

Helping the families of the domestic helpers killed in Tai Po fire

Indonesia

Indonesia domestic worker law faces uphill battle against cultural attitudes

While the new law is a start, real changes will not happen instantly because of ingrained beliefs, women activists say.

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Domestic workers undergo skills training in Indonesia. Photo: International Labour Organization
Crime in Hong Kong

Helper arrested in Hong Kong for allegedly putting 2 young boys in dog cage

Mother alleges helper confined boys, aged two and three, in a cage in flat.

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The offence is alleged to have occurred at a flat at Grand Horizon in Tsing Yi. Photo: Google Maps
Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Families of helpers who died in Tai Po fire struggle to break news to kids

Workers’ rights NGO says some families have also been targeted by scammers or descended into disputes over victims’ compensation payouts.

Crime in Hong Kong

Helper, 35, arrested in Hong Kong after allegedly pulling baby’s hair

Mother called police alleging helper had mistreated infant at home.

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Hong Kong society

‘A dream come true’: helpers flock to Disneyland for free trip given as thanks

Amusement park and Li Ka Shing Foundation gave 5,000 tickets to workers from Philippines, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Thailand.

Domestic helpers pose for a photo with their free tickets to Hong Kong Disneyland. Photo: Eugene Lee
Crime in Hong Kong

Domestic helper arrested after 6-month-old girl dies in Hong Kong

Baby was rushed to hospital after being found unconscious on a bed by her family.

The baby was found unconscious at home in Fairview Park, Yuen Long. Photo: Martin Chan
Crime in Hong Kong

5 jailed in Hong Kong crackdown on illegal employment

Immigration Department raids 23 locations, including restaurants, cleaning companies and commercial buildings.

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong students honour over 400 foreign domestic helpers as ‘second mothers’

Renaissance College’s annual ‘Jie Jie Day’ engages participants with cultural games, raffle draws and networking opportunities.

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Crime

11 domestic helpers among 20 arrested in Hong Kong crackdown on illegal labour

Six residents among those arrested are the owners or in charge of companies allegedly involved.

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The Immigration Department carried out a three-day operation across the city. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong domestic helper jailed for 27 months over fatal runaway car accident

Reshielle Lagurin Magsino was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving after her unsecured car rolled down slope, killing woman.

Li Ka-shing

Hong Kong’s Li Ka Shing Foundation gifts 5,000 Disneyland tickets to domestic helpers

Expanded charity scheme will treat workers from six nations to free day at the theme park with meals and transport covered.

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Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Death toll from Hong Kong fire rises to 168 after more remains identified

Security chief Chris Tang updates death toll from Tai Po inferno, saying remains of all victims have now been identified.

Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Photo: Sam Tsang
Doing Good

Meet the teen with a mission to help artists with his own brand of socks

Darren Lee, the founder of Sababu Socks, talks about providing a lifeline for under-represented artists from the Philippines to Tanzania.

Founder of Sababu Socks, Darren Lee, sports a pair of Fishy on Me socks, designed by Tanzanian artist Chinga. Photo: Jocelyn Tam
Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Indonesian helper battles trauma, faces job insecurity after Hong Kong fire

NGOs say they are bracing for more terminations among helpers as families begin to count the cost of their losses.

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Helper who survived Hong Kong fire recovers in Philippines for Christmas

Rhodora Alcaraz earlier lauded by Philippine president as hero for her role in helping save three-month-old baby during last month’s fire.

Indonesia

Indonesian helper who died in Hong Kong fire ‘was always there’ for others

Desi Widiana, one of nine Indonesian helpers killed in the Tai Po fire, was found huddled together with her elderly ward.

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Desi Widiana was one of nine Indonesian helpers who died in the fire at Wang Fuk Court. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Philippines’ Marcos lauds helper returning home after deadly Hong Kong fire

Country’s top envoy in Hong Kong says Philippine president met Rhodora Alcaraz, praised her for role in saving employer’s baby.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr welcomes Rhodora Alcaraz at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

We want to stay in Hong Kong, say Filipino helpers who survived deadly blaze

Helpers who escaped inferno with children and elderly employers want to remain in city despite upheaval to their lives and emotional toll of tragedy.

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Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Filipino victim in Hong Kong fire ‘planned to go home for good to be with son’

Maryan Pascual Esteban, who died with her five-year-old ward Hannah in the Tai Po inferno, was excited about heading home, friend says.

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