-
THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1987
FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS CONDITIONS REVISED
*****
THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR DAVID JEAFFRESON, TODAY (THURSDAY) ANNOUNCED REVISED CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS, WHICH COVER CONDITIONS OF STAY, CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT, RENEWAL OF CONTRACT, WAGE LEVEL, PART-TIME WORK AND INSURANCE POLICIES.
THESE WERE APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL RECENTLY FOLLOWING A REVIEW CONDUCTED BY THE SECURITY BRANCH LAST YEAR AND WILL BE IMPLEMENTED ON APRIL 21, 1987.
AS REGARDS THE ENTRY POLICY, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DECIDED THAT THE NUMBER OF FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS IN HONG KONG SHOULD NOT BE REDUCED OR LIMITED FOR THE TIME BEING.
EXPLAINING THE REVISED CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT, MR JEAFFRESON
ARE SAID FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS, MOSTLY FROM THE PHILIPPINES, AT PRESENT ADMITTED INTO HONG KONG ON SIX-MONTHLY PERIODS OF STAY.
+THIS HAS LED TO SOME FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS BREAKING CONTRACTS EARLY IN THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD TO WORK ILLEGALLY FOR ANOTHER EMPLOYER OR IN OTHER JOBS UNTIL THE PERIOD OF STAY IS UP, HE SAID.
+
THE NEW CONDITION OF STAY WILL STIPULATE THAT WHEN A FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPER'S CONTRACT IS TERMINATED, SHE WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED TO STAY IN HONG KONG FOR THE REMAINDER OF HER CURRENT SIX MONTHS OR FOR TWO WEEKS AFTER THE TERMINATION OF HER CONTRACT, WHICHEVER IS THE SHORTER.
THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION COULD ADJUST THIS REQUIREMENT TO SUIT THE PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES OF A PARTICULAR CASE.
ON CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT AS THIS WAS NORMALLY ALLOWED IN THE SECOND YEAR OF A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT IT HAD LED TO FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS JOB-HOPPING AFTER COMPLETING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE CONTRACT.
UNDER THE NEW ARRANGEMENT, CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT WILL NO LONGER BE ALLOWED IN THE FIRST OR SECOND YEAR OF AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT EXCEPT IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS WHEN THE EMPLOYER IS UNABLE TO CONTINUE WITH THE CONTRACT BECAUSE OF EXTERNAL TRANSFER, DEATH OR FOR FINANCIAL REASONS.
IT HAS ALSO BEEN DECIDED THAT A FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPER WILL BE ALLOWED TO SUBMIT A NEW AND VALID CONTRACT BEFORE SHE LEAVES HONG KONG IF HER FORMER CONTRACT HAS RUN ITS COURSE.
+ HOWEVER, IN THE CASE OF FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS WHO HAVE BROKEN THEIR CONTRACTS, THEY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO SUBMIT A NEW AND VALID CONTRACT BEFORE THEY LEAVE THE TERRITORY, MR JEAFFRESON SAID.
/ASR MARDS