MANILA, Philippines - Filipino household service workers (HSWs) in Hong Kong are getting a salary raise and other additional benefits, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday.
Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the Hong Kong Labor Department has ordered an increase of 4.8 percent in the monthly minimum allowable wage (MAW) of foreign HSWs.
“From a monthly pay of HK$3,740 foreign HSWs including Filipinos will now be getting HK$3,920 a month, while the monthly food allowance rose from HK$775 to HK$875,” Baldoz said.
The labor chief said the HK government came out with the new wage rate after conducting its annual review of the MAW for foreign HSWs.
The review, she said, took into consideration Hong Kong’s general economic and employment situation, relevant income movements, price changes and labor market situation.
Baldoz said HK’s standard employment contract in hiring foreign HSWs requires employers to provide domestic helpers with free food or food allowance.