Domestic helpers in Hong Kong call for better food allowances

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A survey organized by Caritas Asian Migrant Workers Social Service Project and Hong Kong Helper's Food Rights Concern Group from March to August, this year showed that more than 80 per cent of the 471 foreign domestic workers they questioned said the present domestic helper's food allowance is not sufficient. The survey found that one out of three helpers in the city suffers from hunger.

The survey subsequently brought about the demonstration of activists on Sunday( 24th of September) to urge the government to raise the statutory minimum food allowance for foreign domestic helpers,

"The 1,196 Hong Kong dollars stated in the domestic worker contract is not enough. Almost 38.5 dollars per day. What portion of food can you buy for three meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner? You [may not be] full." Joselyn, a domestic helper who has been working in Hong Kong for five years told a press conference held by Caritas on Sunday.

Another domestic helper who had worked in the city for 10 years told RTHK "Actually, so many helpers, especially those new helpers who come here, they don't know what HK$ 1,196 is."

"We just signed the contract, and then we don't know what is in the contract and about our food [allowance], "she added.

Activists for the helpers urged the government to raise the minimum food allowance from HK$1,196 to HK$1,800.

They also called on the agents of the domestic helper to clarify all terms on free food and the food allowance in the contract.

香港家庭傭工呼籲提高膳食津貼

一項調查發現，香港有三分之一的外傭面臨飢餓，週日活動人士敦促政府提高外籍家庭傭工的法定最低食物津貼。

明愛亞洲外來工社會服務計畫與香港傭工食物權益關注小組今年3月至8月進行的一項調查顯示，在接受調查的471名外籍家庭傭工中，超過80%表示目前的家庭傭工食物津貼不符合要求。充足的。 調查發現，該市三分之一的幫工面臨飢餓。

調查隨後引發活動人士週日（9月24日）示威，敦促政府提高外籍家庭傭工的法定最低食物津貼，

「家政工合約上寫的1,196港元是不夠的。每天差不多38.5美元。你的三餐——早餐、午餐和晚餐，能買多少份食物？ 你[可能]吃不飽。” 在香港工作五年的家庭傭工喬斯琳週日在明愛舉行的新聞發布會上表示。

一名在本市工作10年的家庭傭工告訴香港電台： “其實很多傭工，特別是新來的傭工，他們都不知道1,196港元是多少。”

“我們只是簽了合同，然後我們不知道合同裡有什麼，也不知道我們的食物[津貼]。”

幫傭活動人士敦促政府將最低食物津貼從1,196港元提高至1,800港元。

他們也呼籲家庭傭工的代理人澄清管制中所有有關免費食物和食物津貼的條款。