The Hong Kong Federation of Asian Domestic Workers (FADWU) urged the government to raise employers’ concerns about workers’ rights after a foreign domestic helper was fired after being diagnosed with cancer.
Noelyn Patricio Arzaga, a 38-year-old Filipino domestic worker, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer last April. Unfortunately, her condition progressed to stage 3 by early June.
She eventually underwent a mastectomy in mid-June and was granted medical leave from June 18 to August 12.
However, her employer terminated the contract without proper cause after she scheduled chemotherapy treatment in August last year.
The two-year contract between Noelyn and her employer began in August 2023 and there was no requirement for a health check prior to signing.
Noelyn has filed a complaint with both the Labour Department and Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC).
Her chemotherapy treatment costs soared from HK$80 per session in the public hospital to HK$6,000 following the layoff as she is no longer recognized as a domestic helper in the city.
The FADWU raised concerns about the employers’ lack of understanding regarding workers’ rights, noting it recorded 13 similar cases last year.
Hong Kong Employers of Domestic Helper Association suggested that individuals in similar situations should seek assistance from the Labour Department and arrange health checks before hiring.
The EOC warned that terminating an employee because of a disability could violate the Disability Discrimination Offence, citing a total of 31 complaints from foreign domestic helpers received between 2022 and 2024.
According to the Labour Department, there were 22 cases involving the termination of foreign assistants while they were on paid sick leave, however no employers were prosecuted for violating the Employment Ordinance during that time.
