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The Labour Department (LD) today (June 24) first participated in the Welcome Programme, organised by the Consulate-General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong (ICG) at the Consulate's building, for newly-arrived Indonesian domestic helpers (IDHs), and gave a briefing on employment rights and how helpers could safeguard themselves while working in Hong Kong. The event was well-received with around 130 IDHs attended.
This forms part of the intensified collaborative efforts between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) and ICG in protecting IDHs and raising awareness of their employment rights. In addition to joining the Welcome Programme in future, LD will participate in ICG's events, for example the Indonesian Festival to be held on August 24 this year at Victoria Park, where a booth will be set up for distributing information packs (with information leaflets and practical guide on employment rights) and screening publicity videos. LD will also make use of that opportunity to disseminate key messages on employment rights as well as occupational safety and health to IDHs.
Apart from various publicity and promotional efforts, a regular liaison mechanism has been established among ICG, LD and relevant law enforcement agencies of HKSARG for strengthening collaboration and information sharing on problematic employment agencies, employers and IDHs.
The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, welcomed the strengthened collaboration and publicity efforts by HKSARG and ICG. He said, "This demonstrates HKSARG's full commitment in protecting the rights of IDHs in Hong Kong. We very much welcome the intensified collaboration with ICG and look forward to working closely with other Consulate-Generals of the foreign domestic helper (FDH) exporting countries to safeguard the interest of over 320 000 FDHs in Hong Kong. We have stepped up publicity and education to raise FDHs' awareness, and set out a range of short-term to long-term measures to enhance their protection."
"FDHs are part of our valuable workforce and deserve our full protection. We appeal to the employers to treat FDHs well. It would be in the interests of both employers and employees to maintain a good and long lasting relationship, which can only be achieved when both sides respect each other's rights and take their obligations seriously. We will treat all complaints from FDHs seriously and will take out prosecution promptly if sufficient evidence is found during investigation," Mr Cheung added.
Ends/Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:20
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