Key facts
- Hong Kong faces challenges with safe public spaces and acceptable indoor working conditions for its 368,000 foreign domestic helpers.
- A new shelter for distressed Filipino domestic workers in Tai Po is ready but awaits government approval.
- The new facility is described as larger and more comfortable than the previous shelter.
- Foreign domestic helpers constitute about 10% of Hong Kong's workforce, primarily from the Philippines and Indonesia.
- The minimum monthly pay for a helper is HK$5,100.
Hong Kong's substantial population of foreign domestic helpers faces challenges related to safe public spaces on days off and adequate indoor working conditions, particularly during hot weather. The number of these workers is increasing, nearing pre-pandemic levels, with 368,000 recorded in 2024. These helpers, predominantly from the Philippines (55%) and Indonesia (42%), form about 10% of the city's workforce and are crucial for local families.
A new shelter for distressed Filipino domestic workers in Tai Po has been prepared but awaits approval from local authorities. This facility is described as larger and more comfortable than the previous one in Kennedy Town. The minimum monthly pay for a helper is HK$5,100, while employers must demonstrate a minimum monthly income of HK$15,000.