Sending money home has become a bigger expense for foreign domestic helpers, according to a survey conducted recently by the Mission for Migrant Workers (MFMW) and the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM).
These remittances accounted for 63.98% of their total
monthly budget, a significant increase from 31% in 2018, the survey found.
The survey was conducted in time for the celebration of International Domestic Workers Day today (June 16), “to update our understanding of the spending patterns of migrant workers since our last research in 2018,” the groups said.
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Among its findings was that 96.84% of respondents were sending
money home.
The average remittance amount was $2,689, with 70% of
respondents remitting between $2,000 and $5,000” per month, the two
organizatons added.
The Minimum Allowable Wage for FDHs has been set at $4,990
per month since September 29, 2024, but 58% received the minimum allowable wage
of $4,990 or below since many were still on contracts they signed when the minimum
wage was $4,870 a month.
The survey showed that 14% of the respondents were
underpaid.
Although 42 per cent received higher than minimum wage, the
additional amount was not much higher as the average wage amounted to $5,099.24.
The second biggest expense is loan payments, which were made
by 23% of migrant domestic workers. Over half of them spent $1,000 to $3,999
monthly on these loans.
Additionally, 5% of respondents incurred monthly agency
fees, primarily new arrivals in Hong Kong for less than one year.
When other expenditures were counted, 26% of the respondents
reported that their income was short by an average of 9%, the survey found.
“These findings highlight the financial challenges faced by
migrant domestic workers and the need for continued advocacy and support. We
call upon the community to join us in supporting migrant domestic workers'
campaign for a living wage and address the financial challenges faced by
migrant domestic workers,” the two rganizations dded
For its part, the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body Hong Kong
(AMCB-IMA HKM) re-launched its 3Ws campaign to fight for Living Wage, Regulate
Working Hours and Workers’ Rights of the 30,000 migrant workers in the
territory.
“From January to June 2025, the Indonesian Migrant Workers’
Union (IMWU), Filipino Migrant Workers’ Union (FMWU) and Mission for Migrant
Workers Union (MFMW) have received complaints from more than 916 MDW” the group
said. “The common complaints are long working hours, no regular day off,
termination and accommodation problems.”
According to the AMCB-IMA HKM, 376 out of 916 (41%) work 11
to 16 hours a day, with 11% working for more than 16 hours.
In addition, more than 11% do not have a regular rest day
and still work even on their day off before leaving their employers’ house.
“The large number of terminations, at least 4% of which are
employer-initiated, is also worrying” the group said.
“In the past six months, there have been at least 349 cases
of termination along with malicious ‘job-hopping’ accusations. Due to the worst
working conditions MDWs were forced to terminate their contract but It seems
like MDWs have no right to change employers even if they are struggling, while
employers can change helpers anytime they want,” it added.
In celebration of International Domestic Workers Day, it is
only right to recognize the contribution of Migrant Domestic Workers to our
society, it said.
The AMCB-IMA HKM reiterated the demands to create jobs back
home to address the root cause of migrations so families will no longer be
separated, give MDWs a living wage of HK$6,172, regulate the ILO Domestic
Workers Convention (ILO C189) to acknowledge domestic workers as equal to any
other wage earners with an acceptable minimum standard for working conditions,
create clear guidelines in the employment contract on what is suitable accommodation
and uphold rights and dignity for all MDWs.
