Hong Kong
Name
Date
Hong Kong
According to official records, there are approximately 286,000 migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong. Their roles in cleaning, cooking and caring for children of Hong Kong should not be overlooked. It is equally fundamental because it grants the working class of Hong Kong an opportunity to comfortably cope up with their long working hours. Although they make an imminent contribution to the economic growth of this country, they are treated so unfairly (Sang, Y. et al., 2007).
First and foremost, they are poorly remunerated. Most of their employers believe they are so desperate people who should be exploited by being given low wages. This has been a historical justice done to this people since time immemorial. Their salaries have not been reviewed for a very long time. In fact, since 1998, when it was increased by HK $ 140, persistent efforts to review salaries have been fruitless. Meaning, it has become a peanuts to these laborers since it is not reflective of the prevailing economic conditions (Burns 2004).
Besides, these workers are often abused by their employers. There have been many cases of physical and even sexual harassments amongst these workers. Most of them are vulnerable to assaults and raping. Worse still, they are discriminated by the law which has stipulated stringent conditions to warrant permanent residence to them. This excludes them from enjoying full privileges just like other citizens. For instance, the Supreme Court ruled that such a status can be granted only after staying in the country for at least seven years (Fu, P. & Deser, D., 2002).
In order to solve this problem, the government of Hong Kong should come up with measures to check the welfare of these servants. There should be clear laws on their wages and working conditions. I would like to recommend that a special body should be instituted to oversee their welfare. I am sure this will be the only way through which the cases of injustice, poor payment and harassments will be eradicated. Domestic workers should be treated with respect regardless of their nationality.
References
Burns, J.P. (2004). Government Capacity and the Hong Kong Civil Service. Oxford UniversityPress.
Fu, P. & Deser, D. (2002). The Cinema of Hong Kong: History, Arts, Identity. CambridgeUniversity Press.
Sang, Y. et al. (2007) Sexual Orientation and Human Rights in Hong Kong. Hong Kong HumanRights Monitor.
