Question: Many employers in Hong Kong provide minimal accommodation and facilities for their domestic workers, even if some can be said to be less human. Actually, what are the rules?
Answer: As contained in the standard employment contract (ID 407, the work contract document which is usually in green) and its attachment, there are provisions whereby the employer must provide adequate accommodation and facilities, as well as furniture for foreign domestic workers (PRT). Also, must provide food or meal allowance.
Based on the Practical Guidelines for Foreign Helpers issued by the Hong Kong Labor Department, the following is a list of these facilities and accommodations:
First, the rooms are decent with privacy. While flats in Hong Kong are of average small size and the availability of a separate maid's room is not common, employers must provide domestic workers with reasonable accommodation and with reasonable privacy. Examples of inadequate accommodation include: Domestic workers have to sleep on folding mattresses in an alley with almost no privacy space and share rooms with adults / adolescents of the opposite sex.
Second, facilities for daily needs which include: (a). electricity and water supply, (b). latrines and bathrooms, (c). bed, (d). blanket, (e). pillow, (f). wardrobe, refrigerator and table. Usually, if the employer is unable to provide facilities and accommodation in points a to f, the Hong Kong Immigration Service will not grant his application to employ foreign domestic workers. [AR]
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