What if your domestic helper got a wrist injury?

(Updated on September 7, 2023)

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Domestic workers, like any individuals performing repetitive or physically demanding tasks, can be prone to wrist injuries or wrist pain. Wrist injuries can occur due to various reasons, including:

Repetitive Strain: Domestic workers often engage in repetitive tasks such as cleaning, scrubbing, and lifting objects, which can put strain on the wrists over time. Repetitive motions without proper rest and ergonomics will lead to conditions like tendinitis or carpal tunnel syndrome.
Lifting Heavy Objects: Domestic workers may be required to lift heavy objects while performing household chores. Improper lifting techniques or exceeding their physical capabilities can result in wrist injuries, such as sprains or strains.
Inadequate Ergonomics: Poor ergonomics, such as using improper tools or equipment, working in awkward positions, or not having proper hand or wrist support, may contribute to the development of wrist injuries and the wrist pain.
Insufficient Rest and Recovery: Domestic workers often work long hours without adequate rest periods, which will lead to fatigue and increase the risk of injuries, including wrist-related ones or an accident.

How can domestic workers prevent wrist injuries?

To prevent wrist injuries or wrist pain, it is important for domestic workers and their employers to take certain precautions:

Training and Education: Providing proper training on lifting techniques, ergonomics, and injury prevention will help domestic workers understand how to perform their tasks safely and minimize the risk of wrist injuries or an accident.
Regular Breaks and Rest: Encouraging and allowing regular breaks during work hours will help reduce the strain on the wrists and provide your domestic worker time for recovery. During recovery period, avoid assigning your domestic workers heavy lifting work to worsen their injured wrist.
Proper Equipment and Tools: Providing domestic workers with suitable tools and equipment, such as ergonomic cleaning tools and wrist supports, will help reduce the risk of wrist injuries or wrist pain.
Stretching and Exercise: Engaging in wrist-strengthening exercises and stretching routines before and after work will improve your domestic worker’s wrist flexibility and reduce the likelihood of injuries. It will also help relieve the intensity of your domestic worker’s wrist pain. HelperChoice provides FREE weekend yoga classes for foreign migrant domestic workers. You may follow HelperChoice Facebook page and Instagram to stay tuned for the events.
Health and Safety Policies: Employers should have proper health and safety policies in place that address the well-being of domestic workers, including the prevention of occupational injuries or any accident.

If a domestic worker experiences persistent wrist pain or injury symptoms, it is important to seek medical care for proper diagnosis and treatment.

What if your worker got a wrist injury?

1. Inform the Labour Department about a work-related injury

It is important to report any work-related injuries to the Labour Department within 14 days from the occurrence of the accident. In the unfortunate event of a fatality, the notification should be made within 7 days.

The necessary procedures to be followed will depend on the severity of the injury. If your domestic worker’s absence from regular work does not exceed 7 days and the injury does not result in permanent incapacity, your domestic worker will not be required to undergo medical clearance. The compensation owed to your domestic worker will be determined according to the guidelines outlined in the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance.

For instance, if your domestic worker trips and injures their ankle, leading to a hospitalization period of 2 days before returning to work, they will not need to undergo medical clearance. However, it is still important to report the incident to the Labour Department.

However, if the injury is severe and your domestic worker misses more than 7 days of work as a result, the doctor may recommend that they undergo medical clearance. The medical clearance process determines the percentage of loss in earning capacity for the injured worker, and their compensation pay is calculated accordingly. For more detailed information, you can refer to the resources provided by the Labour Department.

2. Provide free medical treatment

It is the employer’s duty to ensure that their domestic workers receive free medical care and treatment throughout the duration of their 2-year employment contract, except in cases where the worker is outside of Hong Kong for non-work-related purposes. This medical coverage includes health consultations, hospital expenses, and emergency dental treatments when necessary. Given that treatment expenses can be unexpected and potentially high, it is recommended that employers acquire an insurance policy which can provide comprehensive medical and hospital coverage. Severe wrist pain may require special attention or worse, surgery is required.

Medical Benefits For Domestic Workers

1. Sick leaves and sickness allowance

As per Labour Department Hong Kong, your domestic worker has the rights to receive paid sick leave, with an initial entitlement of 2 days per month during the first year of employment, increasing to 4 days per month thereafter. These paid sick leave days can be accumulated over time. If your worker falls ill and provides a valid sick leave certificate, she will be granted the rights to claim and take her sick leave.

However, employers are only required to provide sickness allowance when the sick leave extends for a minimum of 4 consecutive days, and only if their domestic worker has accumulated sufficient paid sick leave days.

The sickness allowance should amount to four-fifths of the worker’s average daily wage. It is important not to request your domestic worker to work on her designated sick leave days.

2. Mandatory Health Insurance

According to the labor law in Hong Kong, employers are required to provide foreign migrant domestic workers health insurance, known as Employee’s Compensation Insurance (EC Insurance) for the duration of their two-year employment contract. For specific information about the health care insurance policy and the medical treatment claims procedure, please reach out to the relevant insurance provider. Domestic workers’ compensation insurance policy offers coverage for treatment expenses, disability compensation, and death benefits in case of work-related injuries or illnesses. This insurance can help safeguard the well-being of domestic workers by ensuring they have appropriate medical treatment and financial assistance in the event of an accident or occupational diseases resulting from their employment.

You might also be interested in:

Visa And Contract Renewal For Filipino Domestic Workers | HK$2588 | HelperChoice

About HelperChoice

HelperChoice is an ethical and licensed maid agency in Hong Kong since 2012. It provides an online platform for domestic workers matching and visa processing service for Filipino domestic workers. If employers are looking for a domestic worker to take care of a child or an elderly person, employers can sign up for free on HelperChoice platform and find verified domestic workers’ profiles by their work experience, current location, nationality, availability, cooking skill and so forth. The hiring process is transparent, flexible and relatively affordable compared with traditional maid agencies in Hong Kong. Once employers find a suitable maid, employers may contact HelperChoice team to process domestic workers’ visa and employment contract. Most of visa processing services include 2-year mandatory helper insurance at the best prices. For contract renewal, it will take around 2 weeks time.

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