For the third consecutive year, HelperChoice has analysed the data of more than 30,000 job ads posted on its platform between August 2018 and August 2019 to determine which areas foreign domestic workers can expect to earn the most and the least. This study was carried out as the Hong Kong Labour Department is expected to announce the foreign domestic workers minimum wage re-evaluation by the end of this month.
An Encouraging Trend for the 3rd Consecutive Year
For the third consecutive year, HelperChoice’s annual salary survey in Hong Kong shows an encouraging trend. This year, the average salary of a foreign domestic worker is HK$4,945, equalling a 3.05% increase compared to the previous study in 2018, and an 8.80% increase since 2017.
However, we can identify clear disparities in the domestic helpers’ salaries according to their employment location. Following the trends of our previous years’ observations, families living in areas considered as more wealthy offer a higher salary to their helpers.
In 2019, the top five Hong Kong districts with the highest wages were the same as those in 2018: the Southern side, Wan Chai, Central & Western districts, Sai Kung and the Islands. Foreign domestic workers in these districts might expect an average salary of HK$5,148 in these areas, with two employers offering up to HK$10,000 per month.
On the other hand, the five districts offering the lowest salaries in 2019 were: Wong Tai Sin, Kwun Tong, Kwai Tsing, Tsuen Wan and Kowloon City. Employers in these areas offer an average salary of HK$4,696, which is only HK$176 above the Minimum Allowable Salary (MAW) of HK$4,520.
If we go back in time, we can observe that the Minimum Allowable Salary (MAW) increases, on average, by 2.4% every year and follows the Consumer Price Index (CPI) trend, which evolves at an average rate of 2.5% each year.
This means that foreign domestic workers can still achieve their saving goals (children’s education, housing, retirement…) and send remittances without being impacted too much by the increase of consumer goods’ prices.
Living Arrangements
In Hong Kong it is mandatory for domestic helpers to live with their employers as the domestic helpers’ salary does not include the cost of accommodation, nor food allowance or medical expenses. Considering the housing costs in Hong Kong, this has of course a huge impact on the domestic helpers’ budget and the money they can save or send back home. However, the comfort of the living arrangements plays a significant part of domestic workers’ living conditions.
As the employers can specify the type of accommodation they offer to their domestic workers, HelperChoice also investigated which types of living arrangements are the most common. The survey exposed that a large majority (66%) of job offers included a private room, whereas 22% offered a room shared with a child, 7% a room shared with another domestic worker and 5% a room shared with an adult. It is important to note that domestic helpers cannot sleep in the same room as another adult of the opposite sex.
Domestic Workers and Hong Kong Unrest
In August, HelperChoice reached out to Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong to understand their side of the story and how the recent unrest is affecting them. There are currently 400,000 domestic helpers working in the city, of which 55% are from the Philippines, and this number is expected to keep rising in the coming years.
Amongst the respondents, 65% have seen one or several marches and a large majority have discussed the current situation with their relatives or employers. 70% are talking about the situation with their friends in Hong Kong, 60% have broached the subject with their employers and 55% even discuss it with their friends and relatives back home.
When it comes to affecting their daily work life or personal life, only 16% of the surveyed helpers claimed that their work was disturbed. However, 64% of them felt affected during their days off; for the most part, foreign domestic workers have one day off per week on a Sunday and now need to adapt their usual activities due to the events. However, less than 3% of the respondents considered relocating to another country to work due to the political unrest.
Conclusion
Hong Kong’s rising helper salaries and improving living arrangements show a positive shift toward fairer, more respectful employment. As families continue to rely on domestic workers, maintaining these standards is essential.
Looking to hire ethically? Explore verified helper profiles on HelperChoice today.