XCC (87) 29
PROBLEMS
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Job-hopping. At present, FDHS
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are not allowed to
change job in any one year contract or during the first year of a two year contract. Employers claim
claim that Some FDHS behave badly so that they can be released from their contract and work for other employers offering higher wages or better working conditions. Employment agencies are said
are said to encourage FDHs to job-hop, charging them fees and giving them accommodation while new contracts are negotiated. This tendency will be accentuated if
if Members advise that a ceiling be put on the numbers of FDHs allowed into Hong Kong at any one time. The FDHS regard the present limitation as too restrictive and claim that they job-hop when they can to get away from poor working conditions such as long and unreasonable working hours, lack of private and separate accommodation, inadequate food and clothing allowances and the bad attitude of their employers.
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Part-time work. Employers claim that some FDHS 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. Such practices are against the visa conditions imposed on FDHs. They are quite widespread, as witnessed by advertisements put up by FDHs supermarkets. Some FDHs who
who have broken their contracts or have secured formal release from their original employers are also known to do part-time work
work until their periods of stay expire.
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in
Other employment. It is a breach of working conditions for FDHS to take up other employment. FDHS are working in bars, restaurants, shops and as prostitutes. It is alleged that some of them have been brought in by fictitious employers for these purposes. Others have switched over to such non domestic help type jobs after breaking contracts or securing a release from geniune employers.
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Congregation in public places. Newspapers have carried reports of resentment towards FDHS occupying sitting out areas in Central and other public places over weekends and public holidays, depriving local residents of the
of the use of such public facilities. FDHS are said to have caused nuisances through the playing of music, illegal hawking or littering.
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Wages. Some employers complain that increases in the wage range of FDHS are unreasonable and too irregular. As the new range benefits only FDHs on new contracts, FDHs working under old contracts try to break their contracts and to have them replaced by new ones with the new wage range.
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