NV
THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1987
AS REGARDS WAGE LEVEL, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DECIDED THAT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE WAGE FOR NEWLY ARRIVED FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS SHOULD BE NO LESS THAN $2 300 PER MONTH AND BE SUBJECTED TO REGULAR REVIEW.
IT IS CONSIDERED THAT THE PRESENT WAGE RANGE OF BETWEEN $1 900 AND $2 050 APPLICABLE TO FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS SHOULD BE REVISED, SO THAT THE WAGE OF NEWLY ARRIVED FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS WOULD BE COMPARABLE TO LOCAL FULL-TIME DOMESTIC HELPERS. THE NEW WAGE WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON APRIL 21 AND WILL APPLY TO NEW CONTRACTS AS FROM THAT DATE.
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ALSO NOTED THAT SOME FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS WORK AS PART-TIME HELPERS FOR OTHERS ON THEIR DAY-OFF OR DURING NORMAL WORKING HOURS WHEN THEY SHOULD BE WORKING FOR THE EMPLOYER WHO IS PARTY TO THEIR CONTRACT.
MR JEAFFRESON WARNED THAT SUCH PRACTICES ARE AGAINST THE CONDITIONS OF STAY IMPOSED ON FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS AND IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO EMPLOY, FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME, FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS WHO HAVE BEEN PERMITTED TO STAY IN HONG KONG TO WORK FOR ANOTHER PERSON.
+PERSONS WHO ASSIST FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS TO BREAK THE LAW COMMIT AN OFFENCE WHILE FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS WHO TAKE PART- TIME OR FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT IN THIS MANNER MAY BE REMOVED FOR BEING IN BREACH OF CONDITIONS OF STAY.
+PERSONS SO REMOVED WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RE-ENTER HONG KONG TO WORK AS FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS,+ HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICES OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO EMPLOYERS WISHING TO FIND DOMESTIC HELPERS, FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME, AND EMPLOYEES LOOKING FOR SUCH WORK.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS TAKING UP EMPLOYMENT OTHER THAN DOMESTIC SERVICE, CONTRARY TO THEIR CONDITIONS OF STAY.
MR JEAFFRESON ALSO REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT THEY ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE OUT INSURANCE POLICIES FOR THEIR FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS TO COVER ACCIDENTS ARISING OUT OF AND IN THE COURSE OF EMPLOYMENT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROVISIONS OF THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.
+ EMPLOYERS WILL NOT BE OBLIGED TO PROVIDE GENERAL MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES SINCE EMPLOYERS OF LOCAL WORKERS ARE NOT OBLIGED TO DO SO.
+FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS ARE ENTITLED TO SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT FROM GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS, THE EXPENSES OF WHICH SHOULD BE BORNE BY EMPLOYERS UNDER THE EXISTING CONTRACT, MR JEAFFRESON ADDED.