HK employers' group seek foreign domestic helper minimum wage freeze amid downturn

A Hong Kong organization claiming to represent employers of foreign domestic helpers is urging the government to freeze the statutory minimum wage for helpers, arguing that such a move would align with the current civil service pay freeze and reflect the territory's economic challenges. 

The appeal comes as households face increasing financial pressures due to rising living costs.

The Quadripartite Alliance for Harmonious Employment Practices (QAHEP) recently submitted a formal petition to the Labour Department and legislative representatives. 

The association's spokesperson, Chrystie Lam Haa-iu, emphasized that Hong Kong's unemployment rate has climbed to 3.5 percent while official economic growth forecasts remain conservative at 2 to 3 percent.

Against this backdrop, she characterized last September's 2.5 percent increase in the helper minimum wage to HK$4,990 as "contradictory to current policy direction."

The petition detailed concerning findings from a survey of 392 employers of foreign domestic helpers. 

According to the results, an overwhelming majority of employers (93 percent) have encountered problems related to their helpers' borrowing activities, with many (72 percent) reporting direct harassment from debt collection agencies. 

In some particularly troubling cases, former helpers continued using their employers' addresses to secure loans more than a year after their employment had ended.

The association also raised serious concerns about helpers misusing their visas to take on illegal employment, thereby disrupting local labor markets and exposing employers to potential legal complications.

Another frequently cited issue involved helpers abruptly terminating their contracts early—a practice known as "job hopping"—which leaves many families, particularly those requiring consistent care for children or elderly relatives, in difficult situations without adequate support.

In light of these challenges, the group is calling for immediate action to freeze helper wages until Hong Kong's economy demonstrates clear and sustained recovery. 

Additionally, they recommend overhauling the current wage adjustment system, implementing stricter regulations governing helper lending practices, and strengthening enforcement against those who exploit existing policy loopholes.