Filipino helpers earn US$1,340 per month in South Korea. In Hong Kong? US$642 minimum

Those willing to work up to 52 hours a week could earn as much as US$1,700 under Seoul’s domestic worker pilot programme

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Domestic helpers gather in Central, Hong Kong, to enjoy a day off work. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 12:21pm, 9 Oct 2024Updated: 12:24pm, 9 Oct 2024

Filipino women brought to South Korea as part of a domestic worker pilot programme can expect to receive an average monthly salary of about 1.8 million won (US$1,340) after their first month, officials said.

The programme guarantees each worker a minimum of 30 hours of work per week, translating to a base monthly pay of 1.54 million won for September. Those willing to work up to 52 hours a week could earn as much as 2.29 million won (US$1,700), with additional pay for overtime and holidays.

By comparison, the monthly minimum wage for domestic helpers in Hong Kong was raised to HK$4,990 (US$642) in September, up from HK$4,870 previously.

Of the 98 workers currently enrolled in the South Korea programme, 85 are clocking in over 40 hours weekly, with exact wages to be finalised mid-month, Seoul Metropolitan Government said.

The workers have been placed in 169 households across the capital since September 3, serving as full-time or part-time carers after receiving four weeks of training.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon hopes the domestic worker programme will help address South Korea’s fertility crisis. Photo: Yonhap/EPA-EFE

The initiative is part of a broader strategy by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to address South Korea’s fertility crisis.