Ombudsman to probe boarding houses for domestic helpers

The Ombudsman is launching a direct investigation to examine the Government's regulations on boarding facilities for domestic helpers, as a number of them have been infected in the dormitories during the epidemic.

“Whether such facilities comply with public safety requirements has aroused much concern. The Government has a duty to ensure a reasonable living environment for foreign domestic helpers working in Hong Kong as well as public safety,” the Ombudsman Winnie Chiu Wai-yin said. 

Currently, domestic helpers can stay in boarding houses for two weeks while looking for jobs, yet the accommodations were accused of overcrowding, having poor hygiene, and violating building usage.

There is no specific legislation nor mechanism established for regulating domestic helpers’ boarding facilities and ensuring their compliance with requirements for fire and building safety measures.

So far, 465 domestic helpers have been infected, 212 of them were local infections. The Covid-19 cases involving domestic helpers accounted for around five percent of total cases in Hong Kong.

The investigation would look into regulations on boarding houses by relevant government departments, including the Labour Department, the Home Affairs Department and the Immigration Department.

The Ombudsman is inviting information and views from members of the public. Written submissions should reach the Office of The Ombudsman by February 14, 2021