Migrant workers warn job-hopping claim gives HK bad image

The group claims HK's discriminatory policies make it less attractive to migrant workers

 A coalition of foreign domestic workers' organizations has called for an end to allegations of job-hopping, saying it has tarnished Hong Kong’s image and makes it a less desirable destination for migrant workers.

At a press conference held Thursday, Asian Migrants Coordinating Body spokesperson Sringatin said the wrongful allegation of job hopping by some migrant workers amounts to a further restriction of their rights.

“If Hong Kong continues to impose more restrictions on foreign domestic workers, I think people will leave Hong Kong, this is reality," said Sringatin. “It has to stop its anti-migrant policies because it will only stop migrant domestic workers coming to Hong Kong, it also gives Hong Kong a bad image.”

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Sringatin added that there are many other countries competing for the services of migrant workers like Singapore and Canada, so Hong Kong should stop curbing their rights as that could turn them away.

The AMCB called the press briefing to denounce renewed allegations of so-called job hopping by foreign domestic workers by an employers’ group led by Betty Yung. 

In recent interviews, Yung claimed that many FDWs are terminating their contracts prematurely so they can move to employers who offer them better pay and do not make them do as much work.

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Again, the migrant leaders slammed this as a myth, saying it is ridiculous to suggest that FDWs would quit their jobs on a whim because of Hong Kong’s policy forbidding them from switching employers when the contract is prematurely terminated. FDWs whose contracts are terminated before the two-year period is up are made to go home within 14 days, regardless of whether they quit, or were sacked.

Sheila Tebia of Gabriela Hong Kong said most FDWs are already mired in debt before they could even reach the city because of the high fees charged by employment agencies so they would not give up on their jobs so easily. When they do quit, it is usually because of the harsh or abusive working condition in their employer’s household.

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Tebia cited a 2023 report by the Mission for Migrant Workers that showed that one out of three FDWs do not have a room in which to rest, seven out of 10 reported working long hours, with many working more than 10 hours each day, or working even on their rest days; and more than one in ten are made to do dangerous window-cleaning.

She also said that while it is true that many jobs were lost in the aftermath of the pandemic in 2022, FDWs were among those who bore the most brunt.

“If our situation is good, if our employer treat us well, we will not leave,” said Tebia, citing the big number of FDWs who have been working with the same employer for years.

Dolores Balladares of United Filipinos in Hong Kong and also an AMCB spokesperson, said the 14-day rule for terminated FDWs alone is enough to deter them from job switching, as they know they will have to go back to their home countries and wait a long time before they can come back to work.

“This condition alone is enough to scare migrant domestic workers,” said Balladares. “No MDW in her right mind would quit unless it’s for a valid and urgent reason.”

Sringatin added that once a FDW is tagged as a job-hopper there is also now the added fear that she or he won’t be allowed to return to Hong Kong for work. 

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