By Huiyu Yin
Hong Kong is home to hundreds of thousands of women from
Indonesia and the Philippines who work as “helpers” in pursuit of meager
wealth. They are an indispensable part of the city’s vibrant economy and
society. But incidents of abuse and torture often stay hidden from public view.
Hong Kong's Mission For Migrant Workers (MFMW),
a Hong Kong-based advocacy group, released a study last year based on interviews
with more than 3,000 foreign domestic workers. According to the study, 58 %
said they had experienced verbal abuse; 37% said they worked 16-hour days; 18%
said they experienced physical abuse such as slapping and kicking; and 6% said
they had been subjected to rape, touching or sexual comments in the homes of
their employers. Some reported having to sleep in the bathroom or in the
kitchen.
This issue has raised international concerns. CNN,
WSJ
and BBC have
reported real-life tragedies of the Indonesian maids. It is believed that at
the heart of the issue is Hong Kong law. The law requires domestic helpers to
live with their employers. It also requires them to leave Hong Kong just two
weeks after their employment ends, which often forces the domestic workers to endure
abuses in order to hold onto their jobs and stay in the country.
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