HK hikes minimum wage, food allowance of foreign domestic helpers October 2, 2013 2:30pm The Hong Kong government has increased the minimum allowable wage (MAW) of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) there by 2.3 percent or HK$90, a development that would benefit thousands of Filipinos there. Philippine Labor and Employment Acting Secretary Danilo Cruz said with the increase, household service workers there will now receive HK$4,010 instead of HK$3,290 every month. This does not include the HK$45 increase in food allowance. Citing a report from Labor Attaché to Hong Kong Manuel Roldan, Cruz said food allowance was increased to HK$920 from HK$875 -- a 5.1-percent increase. “The $90 increase in minimum allowable wage and the increase in food allowance is, indeed, a very good news for household service workers who intend to work in Hong Kong,” Cruz said in a statement Wednesday. The increase in the MAW and food allowance will apply to contracts signed on October 01, 2013 and thereafter. Roldan, in his report, said contracts signed by employers and foreign domestic helpers until September 30, 2013 bearing the previous minimum allowable wages of HK$3,920 per month and food allowance of HK$875 may still be accepted and processed by the Immigration Department of Hong Kong, provided that the application will be submitted to the said office on October 28, 2013. The said arrangement will give employers sufficient time to send the signed contracts to the Immigration Department of Hong Kong for completion of the necessary application procedures. Cruz said the minimum allowable wage and the food allowance are minimum standards, which were set by the Hong Kong government to protect foreign domestic helpers from exploitation. According to the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, there are almost 175,000 Filipinos residing and working in Hong Kong as of December 2011. -- KBK, GMA News source: GMA NEWS pinoy abroad 311
Posted on: Thu, 03 Oct 2013 02:15:49 +0000
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