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Labour disputes involving foreign domestic helpers
Following is a question by the Hon Tam Yiu- chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Michael Leung, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Regarding labour disputes between Philippine domestic helpers and their employers, will the Government inform this Council:
Reply:
(a)
of the total number of such disputes in the past three years;
(b)
(c)
Mr President,
(a)
(b)
૯
(c)
how many of these disputes have been dealt with by the Labour Tribunal; and
whether there have been cases in which Philippine domestic helpers have to draw public assistance payment while awaiting the adjudication of the Labour Tribunal; if so, what is the total number of such cases and what is the total amount involved?
From January 1991 to October 1994, the Labour Department recorded a total of 6,744 cases of labour disputes between foreign domestic helpers and their employers. These involved foreign domestic helpers from the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and other countries. There is no statistical breakdown on the nationality of the individuals involved.
Of the 6,744 cases of dispute recorded by the Labour Department, 2,153 cases were referred to the Labour Tribunal for adjudication at the request of the parties concerned, while the number of cases which had actually been dealt with by the Labour Tribunal amounted to 2,850. The difference between the two figures represents cases which were filed direct with the Labour Tribunal by the parties concerned.
According to the Director of Social Welfare, there has so far not been a case involving domestic helpers from the Philippines drawing comprehensive social security assistance (formerly known as public assistance) while awaiting adjudication of the Labour Tribunal.
End/Wednesday, December 14, 1994