Last week, together with 18 organisations serving the Migrant Domestic Worker (MDW) community and their employers, we joined a meeting with the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun and his team.

There are over 350,000 MDWs in Hong Kong today, who significantly contribute to our city. With a rapidly ageing population, it is anticipated our already heavy reliance on this community will significantly increase over the coming years.

Currently MDWs represent 10% of the labour force and are employed by some 13% of households. They enable many Hong Kongers – especially those with young children and elderly parents – to maintain dual income households. In 2018, MDWs were estimated to contribute 3.6% GDP. Recent research also suggests hiring a MDW facilitates the choice by many families to have a second child, which is important given our falling birth rate.

Our meeting presented a key opportunity to share, discuss and pave the way for future collaboration with the Labour Department on important areas of mutual interest – not only for the betterment of Hong Kong, but also towards enhancing mutual care and understanding, as the cornerstones of an amicable family and employment relationship.

Asian Migrants Coordinating Body | Branches of Hope Ltd | Bethune House | Caritas AMP | Christian Action |EmpowerU | Enrich HK | Equal Justice 平義社 | Fair Employment Agency Limited | HelperChoice | HELP for Domestic Workers |Hong Kong Federation of Asian Domestic Workers Unions (FADWU) | Justice Without Borders | Migrasia |Mission for Migrant Workers | Pangyao | PathFinders Hong Kong 融幼社 | TCK Learning Centre | Uplifters