Hong Kong's economy is recovering, leading to a steady increase in foreign domestic helpers, nearing the 2019 peak. Most helpers are women from the Philippines and Indonesia, crucial for childcare and eldercare, a trend expected to continue due to an aging population and economic incentives for local families.
Tents set up inside Hong Kong bus terminuses during Labour Day golden week have sparked online complaints, with some social media posts suggesting mainland tourists were camping. However, visits found the tents were used by domestic helpers who have been gathering at locations including Tai Po, Central and Tseung Kwan O intermittently for about two years due to having nowhere else to rest on their days off.
Foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong are setting up tents under bus terminuses during their days off, sparking online complaints that mistakenly blamed mainland tourists during Labour Day golden week. Helpers say they have been gathering at these locations for about two years because they have nowhere else to go on their rest days.
Indonesia's House of Representatives passed a landmark domestic worker protection bill into law on April 21, 22 years after it was first proposed. The legislation grants domestic workers 14 rights including access to social security, universal healthcare and mandatory vocational training. The scope of work is limited to 10 chores, and placement companies must be registered and barred from deducting workers' wages.
Relatives of 10 foreign domestic helpers who died in a fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po last November continue to struggle with grief while dealing with scammers targeting their compensation. An advocate who visited Indonesia in January found many families still in shock, including the story of Siti Khotimah, 40, who was looking forward to reuniting with her 11-year-old daughter after six years and had prepared a birthday bracelet for her.
