Too Much Work Taking Toll On Helpers: Researchers

Researchers from the Chinese University say foreign domestic workers are less healthy than the population in general in Hong Kong and this is probably due to their poor working conditions.

The researchers surveyed just over 2,000 workers in 2017, finding that 7 out of 10 worked more than 13 hours a day.

More than a third needed to work on what should have been their days off, and nearly four percent reported being physically abused by their employer.

When it came to their physical health, on average the domestic workers scored 47.1 out of 100 on an internationally recognised health survey, and 44.7 for their mental well-being.

When other adults in the city were given the same survey in 2018, they scored higher – 51.8 for physical health and 55.5 for mental health.

Professor Raees Baig said their findings suggest social service organisations should improve support networks for foreign domestic workers.

She said the SAR needs more counselling services, healthcare support and retraining programmes, as well as shelters for those who have been abused.