Hong Kong Household Workers Minimum Wage Increased

Advertisements

The minimum wage set for Household Service Workers (HSWs) in Hong Kong has been increased since Saturday

A wage hike of 2.3 % or HK$4,410 (P28,730.30) will be effective for the HSWs who will sign the new contract, according to south China Morning Post.

Tataasan ng 2.3 porsyento o papalo na sa  ang sahod ng mga kasambahay sa Hong Kong na may mga kontratang pipirmahan sa Sabado o pagkatapos nito, ayon sa ulat ng South China Morning Post.
For the HSWs with old existing contracts, the Immigration Department will handle the process of application for their wage increase. The application has to reach the department by October 27.
More so, the food allowance that has been given instead of free meal stated in the HSW contracts will also be increased to HK$16.
Sponsored Links

From the previous HK$1,037 (P6,755.86) the food allowance will  be increased to HK$1,053 (P6,860.09) per month.
On September last year, the minimum wage for Hong Kong HSWs has previously had increment from HK$4,210 to HK$4,310.
There are 350,000 foreign domestic workers presently deployed in Hong Kong, more than 50% of them are Filipinos .

One Hong Kong Dollar is equal to P6.5148 more or less.Source: South China Morning Post

Advertisement

READ MORE:

©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO

www.jbsolis.com

SEARCH JBSOLIS, TYPE KEYWORDS and TITLE OF ARTICLE at the box below

Heartbreaking OFW Stories: Two Maltreated OFWs Finally Home

"Advertisements"

Social media has always been the rally point for some OFWs in distress. A number of maltreated OFWs has already found help, rescued and repatriated by turning onto social media where they can get the help of concerned netizens relaying the information until it reached the concerned individuals and offices who are able to make appropriate actions. In this case, two OFWs  are now finally home after pleading for help in social media and by the help of the public service oriented program of Mr. Raffy Tulfo.

Marilou Ruelo, an HSW in Saudi Arabia sought the help of Mr. Tulfo's program because she was already receiving threats from her employer. According to the video clip that is making rounds in social media, her employer said that he can do anything to her because he is a police officer. Marilou is working alone doing household work for two families. She was also told by her employer that she will not get any salary for two months. Marilou is afraid and anxious and all that she want is to go back home. On July 30, Marilou arrived at the NAIA as her family waited to meet her. With the help of the netizens and Mr. Tulfo's program, she is now finally out of misery.

"Advertisements"

Rachel Catalbas, an OFW from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, said that she went abroad with one thing in mind, to help her family and to give her kids a better future. With what happened to her in a foreign land, she realized that going abroad is not the only way to do it. She said that she should have been contented with what she was earning in her homeland. Later that she realized that people abroad are different. Her employer forced her to work and did not gave her salary for two months. Rachel sent a video message to the program of Mr. Raffy Tulfo and they brought it to the attention of the concerned offices and agencies. Rachel is now repatriated and enjoying the warm embrace of her family.
Both of them extend their heartfelt gratitude for the people who helped them to be able to return home safely. Rachel even said that she cant believe that she can come home alive.

The story of Rachel and Marilou are both mirrors of what is really happening  when you set your feet off and try your fate abroad, believing that they would found a greener pasture. For some, it might be true but for people like Marilou, Rachel and many others, they found horror instead of joy. Harsh treatment that made them want to go back home and live simply with their loved ones to whom they dedicate their sacrifices.

"Sponsored Links"

Read More:

A female Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) working in Saudi Arabia was killed by an unknown gunman in Cabatuan, Isabela on Sunday.

The OFW is in the country to enjoy her vacation and to celebrate her bithday with her loved ones. The victim's mother, Betty Ordonez, said that Jenny Constantino, 29, arrived in the country from Saudi Arabia for a vacation.

Dominador Say, undersecretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), said that talks are underway with Chinese embassy officials on this possibility. China’s five major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen will soon be the destination for Filipino domestic workers who are seeking higher income.

©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO

www.jbsolis.com

SEARCH JBSOLIS, TYPE KEYWORDS and TITLE OF ARTICLE at the box below

Restricting And Limiting "Kasambahay's" in Using Employers' Airconditioning Units in Hong Kong Draws Anger

Hong Kong is home to over 340,000 migrant domestic workers mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia, and concerns have grown about their welfare after due to cases of high-profile abuse. Recently, a call to restrict and limit Hong Kong domestic workers in the middle of high summer temperatures. A local politician even made a sarcastic suggestion that the domestic helpers should "get used to the hot weather".

An  employer's Facebook post went viral this week after expressing an outrage that her helper had switched on the air conditioning in her room at night without permission, as temperatures topped 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) with high humidity.

"I'm very angry," the woman -- identified only as Wong -- said, according to a screenshot of the now deleted post on a closed group for Hong Kong employers of foreign helpers, published by Apple Daily newspaper.

Wong said  her maid is "audacious to the extreme", and  she would remove the air conditioning switch.

 She was widely criticized by some residents, but somehow, there are others who supported her.

Michael Lee, a politician who heads a group of employers, said in a radio interview that helpers should be accustomed to the weather as they came from "hot, hot" countries and called on employers to establish firm house rules.

However, the politician conceded that the temperatures of recent weeks  has been very unforgiving, thus,  helpers should be allowed air-con at night, but only so they can continue doing their household duties.

"Otherwise she can't sleep, then she can't work," said Lee, a district councilor and spokesman for the pro-business Liberal Party's Taskforce on Foreign Helper's Problems, representing the maids employers.

Lee also said that "he recommend all employers in Hong Kong set up house rules saying what they can and cannot do." 
Helpers' rights advocates said limiting air conditioning was "ridiculous, unfair and inhumane".

Domestic workers rights groups have also criticized exploitative city recruitment agencies that extort large amount of fees from foreign domestic workers.

 Reforms had long been sought for the condition of domestic migrant workers but the Hong Kong government has turned a deaf ear on their cries and flee.
Source:BBC

Read More:




Dominador Say, undersecretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), said that talks are underway with Chinese embassy officials on this possibility. China’s five major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen will soon be the destinfor Filipino domestic workers who are seeking higher income.

©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO

www.jbsolis.com

SEARCH JBSOLIS, TYPE KEYWORDS and TITLE OF ARTICLE at the box below

Hong Kong Domestic Workers: How to Compute Severance Payment or Long Service Payment

A large number of foreign workers in Hong Kong is working as domestic helpers. Household service workers comprise about 3% of the Hong Kong population alone. This is due to the fact that most of Hong Kong's citizens are working, leaving home and children in the care of household service workers. As of October 2016, newly hired foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong are entitled to a minimum allowable wage of HK$4,310 per month.

But for any reason, what happens if the employer-employee relationship deteriorates and one or the other decide to end the terms of employment? What benefits can a household service worker get upon termination of employment contract?

Either the employer or the employee may terminate the contract by giving one month’s notice or one month’s payment in lieu of notice to the other party. The following are included in the Termination payment:

• Unpaid salary
• Payment in lieu of notice, if any;
• Payment in lieu of any annual leave not availed;
• Long service payment/severance payment, where appropriate; and
• Any other sum under the employment contract, e.g. free return passage, food and traveling allowance, etc.

Severance Payment
A foreign domestic helper is entitled to severance payment if he/she:

• has served 24 months continuously with the same employer prior to the termination
• and is dismissed/laid off or the contract is not being renewed by reason of redundancy

An employee who wishes to claim for severance payment should serve a 

written notice to his employer within three months after the dismissal/ lay off takes effect. The employer shall make the severance payment to the employee not later than two months from the receipt of such a notice.

Long Service Payment

A foreign domestic helper is entitled to long service payment if he/she:

• has no less than 5 years of service with the same employer prior to the termination, AND
• is dismissed or the contract is not being renewed by reason other than serious misconduct or redundancy
• resigns on ground of ill health
• resigns on ground of old age, 65 years old and above
• or dies in service

Long service payment should be paid to an employee within seven days after the date of termination of employment contract.

How to Calculate your Severance or LSP?

(Monthly wages) x 2/3 x (number of years of service)

Example:
Assuming the domestic helper has received HK$4,310 monthly salary (minimum wage) for a total of 6 years after several contract renewals:

Long service = HK$4,310 x (2/3) x 6 years

Long service = HK$17,240 – the amount employer should pay to helper.

Service of incomplete year should be calculated on a basis proportional to the number of months served.

A foreign domestic helper is only entitled to either severance payment or long service payment, based on the conditions stated above.


What is the meaning of redundancy?Redundancy means the dismissal is due to the fact that:

• the employer closes or intends to close his business;
• the employer has ceased, or intends to cease, the business in the place/branch where the employee was employed; or
• the type of job the employees do ceases or diminishes or is expected to cease or diminish - even if the business itself is not closing

What is the meaning of lay-off?
An employee shall be taken to be laid off if the total number of days on which no work is provided or no wages is paid exceeds:

• half of the total number of normal working days in any 4 consecutive weeks; or
• one-third of the total number of normal working days in any 26 consecutive weeks.

The days of lock-out, rest days, annual leave and statutory holidays should not be counted as normal working days during the above periods.

source: Hong Kong Labour Department

13 Common Violations Committed by Employers of Hong Kong Domestic Helpers

How Much Will You Save Under President Duterte's Tax Reform Program?

LOOK: Kuwait Newspaper Insults Duterte Many Times, Depicts President As Butcher, Insane and Terrorist

With Tagalog: Which Last Name Should An Illegitimate Child Use And How To Use The Father's Surname?

©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO

www.jbsolis.com

SEARCH JBSOLIS, TYPE KEYWORDS and TITLE OF ARTICLE at the box below