MANILA, Philippines - The Hong Kong Labor Department announced that domestic workers in the region will receive a HK$100 (P575.25) minimum wage increase and an additional HK$44 (P253.11) food allowance for employees since October 1.
“The report says that the increase in minimum wage and food allowance will apply to all contracts signed on or after October 1, 2014,” Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said after receiving the report from Hong Kong-based Labor Attache Officer-in-Charge Ma. Nene German.
The announcement was made during a meeting between the consulate generals of India, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Around 130,000 Filipinos will benefit from the said wage increase and allowance. This brings the minimum allowance of foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong to HK$4,110 (P23,642.77) and food allowance to HK$964 (P5,545.41), according to the Department of Labor and Employment.
As stated in the Standard Employment Contract for hiring, majority of Hong Kong employers provide free food or give food allowance to foreign domestic workers.