59
Foreign domestic helpers as drivers
Following is a question by the Hon Tam Yiu-chung and a written replied by the acting Secretary for Security, Mr Ken Woodhouse, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Will the Government review the Immigration Ordinance and other related ordinances with a view to clearly stipulating that foreign domestic helpers are prohibited from taking up employment as drivers, so that the employment opportunities of local drivers will not be affected?
Reply:
Mr President,
Foreign domestic helpers are admitted for employment with specific employers Domestic duties are defined in the under a standard employment contract. Explanatory Notes of the employment contract to include domestic cooking, household chores, baby-sitting and child minding, but this is not an exclusive definition.
Under the present arrangements, whether foreign domestic helpers are allowed to perform driving duties depends on whether the driving duty is incidental to, or forms part of, the foreign domestic helper's domestic duties. In other words, it has to depend on the context and circumstances in which the duties are performed. Therefore, each case is considered on its merits. At present, we have no plans to review the Immigration Ordinance, or other Ordinances, in relation to this matter.
End/Wednesday, June 14, 1995