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EMPLOYMENT
Demand for foreign domestic helpers has increased over the past two decades. By the end of 2001, there were 235 274 such helpers in Hong Kong, an increase of 8.5 per cent compared with the number of 216 790 in 2000. About 66 per cent of the foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong were from the Philippines and 29 per cent from Indonesia.
Having considered the views of local drivers' labour unions and employers of foreign domestic helpers, the Government decided to tighten the practice of allowing foreign domestic helpers to perform driving duties incidental to and arising from domestic duties. With effect from January 1, 2000, employers had to obtain prior approval from the Immigration Department, before they could deploy their foreign domestic helpers under new contracts to perform such driving duties. Foreign domestic helpers on existing contracts were not affected until their contracts expired.
Telephone Enquiry Service
The Labour Department's Telephone Enquiry Service handles general enquiries on labour legislation and services offered by the department. Guided by the computer- operated answering facilities, callers can listen to pre-recorded messages and obtain fax information 24 hours a day by making a selection from a wide range of topics. The service is supplemented by staff operators during office hours to handle more complicated enquiries. The service handled 1 470 183 calls in 2001.