Contract fees for RI maids in Hong Kong scrapped

Contract fees for RI maids in Hong Kong scrapped

HONG KONG (AFP): Indonesian maids employed in Hong Kong have
gained the support of their consulate in their battle to scrap
extortionate agency fees when renewing employment contracts, a
report said on Sunday.

Employment agencies commonly charge maids HK$5,500 (US$706) --
which is more than two month's salary for some maids -- each time
they renew their contract.

The South China Morning Post quoted Indonesian consul
Mustisidibba Yatim as saying that all domestic helper agencies
registered with the consul would have to adhere to the change,
which enables employers to renew contracts directly with their
maids.

Some 55,000 Indonesians work as maids in Hong Kong.

The policy change came after a campaign by domestic helper
groups, which alleged that many Indonesian maids were underpaid
and abused by their employers and employment agencies.

The newspaper said that 11 Indonesian maids had been forced to
leave their jobs for various reasons, including physical abuse
and underpayment, and were now staying in a shelter.

The women claimed that they were paid between $200 and $1,500
a month and were indebted to their employment agencies. The legal
minimum wage for foreign maids is $3,800.

The director of the shelter, Edwina Santoyo, said the
Indonesian maids took loans that were recommended by the
agencies, but were then unable to honor them.

Eni Andayai, chairwoman of the Indonesian Migrant Workers'
Association, said she was told that as Filipinas could speak
English and Indonesian's could not, "we can't get salaries higher
than $2,000."

Andayai filed a labor complaint when she realized the minimum
wage was $3,800, and eventually settled for half of the $26,000
that was owed to her.

A volunteer at the shelter claimed that many Indonesian maids
simply gave up without filing complaints and returned to
Indonesia.

The Hong Kong Labor Department handled 1,786 salary and
contract claims involving foreign domestic helpers between
January and October last year compared to the 2,280 for the whole
of 1999.