The foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong, which includes more than 130,000 Filipinos, will receive a minimum wage increase of HK$100 (P575.25) and food allowance of HK$44 (P253.11) beginning October 1.
Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz confirmed this yesterday after she received a report from Hong Kong-based Labor Attache Officer-in-Charge Ma. Nene German.
“The report says that the increase in minimum wage and food allowance will apply to all contracts signed on or after October 1, 2014,” Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said.
Ma. Nene German said in her report that the minimum wage increase of domestic helpers was announced by Hong Kong Labor Department during a meeting held with consulate generals of Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Thailand.
According to the Department of Labor and employment (DOLE), the wage increase will bring the minimum allowance of foreign workers to HK$4,110 (P23,642.77) and food allowance to HK$964 (P5,545.41).
In the Standard Employment Contract for hiring, employers are required to provide food with free of charge to their employees. However, they are also allowed to pay them in return for the free food.
Last month, DOLE announced also that Overseas Filipino Workers in South Korea can expect higher pay after the minimum wage council approved the salary increase. It will take effect in 2015 once the Korean Minister of Employment will approve the proposed rule.
This will benefit more than 35, 000 Filipinos under the Employment Permit System (EPS) in South Korea.