Domestic workers in Hong Kong held a demonstration in front of the Labour Department, organized by the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB), to demand a minimum wage adjustment. The specific claim was to raise the amount from HKD 5,100 to HKD 6,172 (equivalent to €571 to €691).
Sringatin, spokesperson for the AMCB, stated in a press release that the current wage is extremely low for a territory that proudly considers itself the 'World City of Asia.' Official data indicates that the average wage in the region is currently around HKD 21,200 (€2,374).
The city's largest group of migrant worker unions and associations, cited by the Hong Kong Free Press, pointed out that the minimum wage increase has been modest, reaching only 39% since the year 2000. Sringatin emphasized that the salary increase is crucial for domestic workers to cope with continuous inflation in Hong Kong and ensure a decent standard of living.
In addition to the wage, the AMCB requested an increase in the monthly meal allowance paid by employers, raising it from HKD 1,236 to HKD 3,123 (from €138 to €350).
In contrast, in August, two groups representing families and employment agencies submitted a petition calling for a freeze on domestic workers' salaries, arguing that any increase would lead to mass layoffs. The AMCB countered this view, asserting that the services provided by these employees are 'irreplaceable' and that part of their earnings is reinvested in the local economy.
The coalition highlighted that domestic workers have provided 'uninterrupted assistance in the home and in caring for children and the elderly' for decades, which allows Hong Kong families to keep two members working full-time.
In the neighboring Chinese region of Macau, the Government implemented a 2.9% minimum wage increase in January, raising it to MOP 7,280 (€791) per month. However, this revision kept domestic employees excluded. Chan Un Tong, director of the Labour Services Department (DSAL), justified this exclusion by citing the 'unique nature' of domestic work and the need for the worker to 'integrate' into the employer's family life.
For new contracts of domestic workers signed from July 2024, the minimum remuneration established by the DSAL is MOP 3,200 (€348), while the average salary for these contracts is around MOP 3,800 (€413). According to official DSAL data, at the end of March, there were nearly 28,800 domestic employees working in Macau, the highest number recorded since February 2021.