As climate change escalates and urban space becomes scarcer, the needs of migrant workers must take priority
With Hong Kong’s economy showing strong recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of foreign domestic helpers in the city is gradually approaching the 2019 peak of 399,000. After a decline in 2022, the figure rebounded to 368,000 in 2024. Foreign domestic helpers account for roughly one-tenth of Hong Kong’s workforce. The majority are women, with 55 percent coming from the Philippines, 42 percent from Indonesia, and the remainder from other Asian nations.
Local households depend on them to care for young children and the elderly, in addition to handling general household chores. Given the city’s aging population, this pattern is expected to persist.
Furthermore, as prospective employers are only required to demonstrate a monthly income of at least HK$15,000 (US$1,914), and the hiring of helpers enables more women to pursue higher-paying jobs themselves, the situation reinforces itself. Helpers receive a minimum monthly wage of just HK$5,100.
Raising these two minimums might offer a superficial fix, but it would likely cause social disruption. Therefore, the issue is expected to grow. Many helpers have Sundays off, as this best suits their employers and also allows the helpers to practice their own religious beliefs—and many do.