DDHK.ORG - On September 29, 2020, the Government of Hong Kong announced that the minimum wages and meal allowances for foreign domestic workers (PRTA) remain unchanged. Neither increases nor decreases.
This was announced by the Government in a press release on its official website, info.gov.hk. “The government announced today (September 29) that the Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW) for foreign domestic helpers (FDH) in Hong Kong will remain at HK $ 4,630 per month, and the food allowance will remain non-existent. it may be less than HK $ 1.121 per month. "
The minimum salary figure for domestic workers in Hong Kong always changes every year. Likewise with the meal allowance. Announcement about the change is always a routine announcement at the end of every September, every year.
Always, the amount increases. However, it has also decreased, namely during the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong in 2002-2003.
"The government regularly reviews MAW and food allowances for child domestic workers. In keeping with existing practice, we have carefully considered the general conditions of Hong Kong's economy and labor market over the past year, as well as the conditions of Hong Kong in the short term. Economic prospects, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking into account the above, the affordability of employers and the livelihoods of domestic workers, the Government has decided that the MAW level and food allowances for domestic workers do not change, ”said a Government spokesman, as reported by info.gov.hk.
The spokesman also emphasized that employers or employers are obliged to provide free food to domestic workers. And, under the Standard Employment Contract in force in Hong Kong, employers can choose to provide money in lieu of meal allowance to their domestic workers.
“MAW and food allowances for domestic workers are established to protect domestic workers from exploitation and to protect local workers from competition with low-wage foreign workers. Employers can choose to pay their domestic workers more than the MAW and the minimum food allowance, taking into account their individual circumstances, ”said the spokesperson. [DDHK NEWS]
