Limit Work Hours For Domestic Helpers: Rights Group

The Asian Migrants Coordinating Body has urged the government to come up with measures to limit the working hours of live-in domestic helpers, so they won't be overworked and exploited.

The group's spokesperson, Eman Villanueva, was commenting after an inquest ruled that a 46-year-old Filipina helper found unconscious at her employer's home in 2017 had died of natural causes.

Leonita Arcillas Quinto came to Hong Kong in late 2016 to work for a family of four at Mei Foo and was said to have complained about her working conditions.

Mr Villanueva told RTHK many helpers work between 11 and 16 hours a day and that exploitation can occur because they are forced to live in their place of work.

"This is not the first time a migrant domestic worker has died in Hong Kong while at work," he said. "This is a very serious condition, and it's not an isolated case. This is where the government should pursue, from this particular case, to look into the situation of migrant domestic workers who are mostly overworked."