Hong Kong’s maid agencies face tough new rules after Erwiana case
Labour chief promises action to show 'bad apples we mean business' following allegations of abuse that made headlines around the world
Hong Kong will overhaul its regulatory system for foreign domestic helpers and revise punishments for unscrupulous employment agencies that are currently set "too low", the labour and welfare secretary told the on Thursday.
The Labour Department would step up surveillance of agencies and hire "retired police officers to join the ranks of inspectors to show the bad apples we mean business", added Matthew Cheung Kin-chung.
Before helpers come, they are often already indebted because of the hefty fees. We have been expressing our concern to the [Indonesian] government
His remarks came after an announcement stating the bureau would work with the Department of Justice on a comprehensive reform of the rules governing foreign domestic helpers and the employment agencies that recruit and supervise them.
But the government also made clear it would not budge on its rule insisting domestic helpers live with employers - a rule that has been at the centre of recent protests by helpers.
Cheung told a meeting of the Legislative Council's manpower panel yesterday: "We need to strike a balance between the [current] situation ... and having too many regulations."
Community groups had been invited to share their views at the meeting following the alleged abuse of Indonesian helper Erwiana Sulistyaningsih - allegations which made headlines around the world and, as several politicians remarked at the meeting, "put Hong Kong to shame".
Cheung got an angry response from migrant advocates at the meeting when he emphasised the role the Indonesian government played in allowing the country's employment agencies to charge high training fees.
