Foreign domestic helpers in HK to have pay rise

Source:Xinhua Published: 2014-9-30 18:04:40

The Hong Kong government announced Tuesday that the Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW) for foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) in Hong Kong is to be increased by 100 HK dollars (about 12.89 US dollars) from to 4,110 HK dollars per month, up by 2.5 percent.

Under the Standard Employment Contract for hiring FDHs, employers are required to provide FDHs with food free of charge or pay them a food allowance in lieu.

If employers choose to pay a food allowance to FDHs, the allowance will be increased by 44 HK dollars, up 4.8 percent, to not less than 964 HK dollars per month.

The new levels of MAW and food allowance will apply to all FDH contracts signed on or after Oct. 1.

A government spokesman said the government reviewed the MAW for FDHs regularly. "In accordance with the established practice, we have carefully considered Hong Kong's general economic and labor market situations, as reflected through a basket of economic indicators, including the relevant income movement and price change in this year's review."

After reviewing the relevant data, taking into account Hong Kong's near-term economic outlook, and striking a balance between the affordability of employers and the livelihood of FDHs, the government has decided to make the above mentioned adjustment, the spokesman said. (1 US dollar = 7.76 HK dollars)

Posted in: HK/Macao/Taiwan

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