Volunteers are being forced to leave regions where they conduct their operations, as non-governmental organizations state that additional shelters are required and call for a governmental assessment.
During a rainy Sunday recently, household workers took shelter beneath footbridges and within transportation stations in the Tsuen Wan area of Hong Kong by quickly setting up tents and spreading plastic sheets during their regular day off.
Hundreds of tents were set up near the columns of the pedestrian bridges, while additional groups gathered on thin concrete platforms within a bus station. Numerous individuals rested against steel barriers or sat on the floor, spreading out rugs and creating areas protected from the rainfall.
After finding protection from the elements, the group consisting of Filipinos and Indonesians—the two primary nationalities among domestic workers—continued with their daily routine, exchanging homemade meals, talking, and taking breaks.
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Among the many people assembled was Filipino domestic worker Jenny Lisa, who mentioned she reunited with her friends inside the station following a Mass at the adjacent Church of the Annunciation. The 34-year-old stated she was prepared to face the intense rainfall just to relish her single day off every week.
"Some helpers don't get sufficient sleep at home, so they opt to rest outdoors. As for me, although I have my own room, I prefer going out to enjoy fresh air and stay away from my employers," she mentioned.
Close by, a 43-year-old assistant named "Gem" mentioned she had come for another purpose. She lived in the same room as her employer's kids and couldn't get any rest until they fell asleep, which is why she required some time away on her day off.
This year earlier, she mentioned, a local individual reported to the authorities, leading officers to break up the gathering.
"They questioned the police about other places we could go since we don’t have our own residences, yet they continued to instruct us to depart," she stated.
The setting is common in Hong Kong. Every Sunday, regardless of weather conditions, over 380,000 domestic workers assemble in parks, near the Central waterfront, and other open locations to take their mandated day off. However, some recent changes have once again highlighted the absence of designated areas where these individuals can meet and relax.
Unions representing helpers claimed their members were being forced away from regions where they previously conducted regular events, while non-governmental organizations called on officials to reconsider labor regulations and the importance of better rest facilities.
"They don't think they can relax at home," stated Catherine Gurtin, chief executive officer of the nonprofit organization PathFinders.
As typhoon season approaches, where do these women go when there's truly nowhere left for them to go?
Live-in rule
According to Hong Kong legislation, overseas domestic workers are required to follow a rigorous "on-site residence" rule, implemented for agreements concluded post-April 2003, mandating that they live within their employer’s household as part of their visa terms.
The authorities have consistently argued that removing the compulsory regulation could impact the domestic labor, transportation, and housing industries.
Under the Employment Ordinance, employers must provide domestic workers with a full 24-hour rest period each week, typically observed on Sundays, along with time off for public holidays.
In an urban area where land is limited and accommodation is expensive, numerous households reside in small, crowded homes. As a result, workers often gather in open-air areas to socialize with companions and unwind from their jobs.
Central's Chater Road and Causeway Bay's Victoria Park are well-known places for weekend gatherings, where people often sing, dance, and enjoy communal meals.
Nevertheless, the absence of structured meeting places for volunteers, especially in more isolated regions, along with inadequate indoor options when conditions are unfavorable, has caused conflicts with certain locals.
Upon being asked for input by the South China Morning Post, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department refused to share recent data regarding grievances involving household workers.
The department stated that everyone visiting was allowed to enjoy its parks and gardens as long as they followed the regulations, noting that grievances were addressed following established protocols, with either spoken reminders or fines given based on the violation.
The problem came into focus during Mainland China's latest Labor Day "Golden Week" holiday, as over 800,000 visitors traveled to the city. Posts on social media expressed frustration over tents occupying the streets, with certain individuals incorrectly accusing tourists.
In truth, the tents were owned by volunteers who informed the SCMP that they had no alternative place to stay on their rest days.
Later in the month, the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body urged officials to extend a walkable zone in Central following the long-term shutdown of sections of Statue Square Gardens, which the organization referred to as an essential community gathering spot for volunteers every Sunday.
However, even in regions where assistance providers typically gather, they encounter challenges.
Rowena Borja, head of the Progressive Labour Union of Domestic Workers in Hong Kong, mentioned that union actions faced limitations in areas like Central and Tamar Park in Admiralty. She noted that security personnel frequently escorted members out for wearing union attire, handing out leaflets, or carrying out questionnaires.
"Security personnel might question our involvement in unlawful actions such as underground lending or arranging events considered critical," she stated.
The chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Asian Domestic Workers Unions, Phobsuk Gasing, stated that racism lay at the core of the problem.
Gasing called on the Equal Opportunities Commission to enhance community outreach efforts to inform people that migrant workers have the same right to use public areas.
In reply to inquiries from SCMP, the committee stated that it has been carrying out education programs and neighborhood engagement initiatives to encourage diversity, reminding citizens that common spaces should stay open for everyone. It encouraged individuals impacted to file reports.
The PathFinders' Gurtin mentioned that certain recent issues were related to the live-in policy. The minimum wage standards for employers have remained unchanged for several years, which has enabled more individuals with moderate and low incomes to employ domestic workers, she pointed out.
At present, potential employers are required to demonstrate that their monthly family income is at least HK$15,000 or that they possess assets worth a similar value, as stated by the Immigration Department.
In contrast, the average monthly family income stood at HK$30,000 last year—double the amount needed to employ a domestic worker—as reported by official statistics.
Although there are no set regulations regarding housing, recommendations emphasize appropriate privacy and require that caregivers should not be housed in the same room as a teen or an adult of the opposite gender.
Gurtin mentioned that in numerous situations, assistants rested on collapsible mats placed directly on the ground, or sometimes in kitchens without proper ventilation or windows.
They couldn’t take any time at work on their days off since there was absolutely no place for them to relax, she mentioned.
Previous suggestions involved officials using school buildings on Sunday mornings as venues for volunteers, but Gurtin stated that "further consideration" was required regarding what resources could be provided to them.
The Ministry of Labor stated that the live-in provision continued to serve as a fundamental policy tool for safeguarding domestic employees, even though exemptions might be allowed in exceptional situations, after a 2020 appellate court decision confirmed its legal validity.
It stated that employers were required to offer appropriate housing confirmed by immigration officials, and that temporary beds in hallways or improper sharing of rooms was not allowed.
What are the alternatives?
Few interior areas have been designated for assistants.
Located at the outskirts of Kennedy Town, many volunteers could be observed entering and exiting the Bayanihan Kennedy Town Centre on a recent Sunday.
Managed by the charitable organization the Bayanihan Trust, the structure was once home to the Chung Sing Benevolent Society School since the 1950s. It remained vacant for three years before being rented out by the government to the trust in 1994.
Every Sunday, the six-story structure offers a wide range of courses — including baking and sewing as well as martial arts — with most sessions priced at several hundred Hong Kong dollars.
The worn-out exterior and quickly deteriorating inside contrasted with the lively events happening during the SCMP's visit. Once used as the school’s auditorium, it now served as a venue for a beauty contest, while in an open-air yard, many assistants were enthusiastically supporting one another in a basketball match.
On an upper level, staff members wearing pink uniforms were engaged in a four-month vocational training program provided by the New Age Caregiver Academy, which awarded a certification upon completion.
Several individuals participated in the training program, including Isidra Baldonaza. The 46-year-old Filipino woman expressed her appreciation for the chance to expand her understanding.
"I don't wish to remain a household worker all my life," she stated, mentioning that she aspires to reach a different phase in her life.
Tess Ubamos, who serves as the center's administrator, mentioned that approximately 2,500 volunteers utilized the space each Sunday.
"The Bayanian Center acts as a place where domestic workers gather for different group and personal activities on their rest days, which they refer to as their 'home away from home," Ubamos stated.
As part of the original arrangement with the authorities, another center was established in Mong Kok, although it eventually shut down. The foundation can also approach six additional schools directly to arrange events on Sundays.
However, Ubamos stated that participation has decreased since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and mentioned that although establishing additional locations could be advantageous, any growth plans were still subject to approval by the board of directors and the government.
The Ministry of Labor stated that officials will keep assessing the sufficiency and usage of these amenities.
Embassies of the Philippines and Indonesia have additionally created areas where domestic workers from these nations can come together.
Last year, the Philippine Bureau of Migration and Welfare established its initial facility for Overseas Filipino Workers in Admiralty. This area offers various forms of support, including legal guidance and professional growth opportunities, along with a relaxation zone for domestic helpers.
Social worker Marilou Sumalinog stated that the office functions from Sunday until Thursday, serving over 1,000 individuals each week. New arrivals participate in orientation programs during weekdays, while others attend complimentary skill development and vocational education courses on weekends.
Many volunteers attend training sessions during their free time for professional growth," Sumalinog mentioned. "We've relocated to a larger location and now have the facilities and tools to provide additional courses. In total, over 100 people participated.
Deputy Consul Jose Angelo D.G. Manuel stated that the consulate was considering establishing additional service centers and had addressed this issue with the Hong Kong authorities, who proposed a site in Kai Tak.
The office hasn't gotten any feedback or concerns about challenges assistants encounter while assembling in shared spaces.
"Our Filipino employees are strong enough to pitch tents in parks, beneath bridges, and along roadways," Sumalinog stated.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Consulate in Hong Kong stated that it provides a meeting hall at its location which can be utilized without cost for gatherings arranged by its citizens, including domestic workers. It mentioned that the space experiences a "significant level of demand," especially during weekends.
It mentioned that it has been considering the possibility of setting up a center in Hong Kong, which would act as a venue for showcasing the nation's cultural heritage and travel attractions, while also serving as an intermediary for Indonesian organizations.
"The proposal has been submitted to the municipal authorities multiple times and remains under evaluation from different angles, such as facility availability, funding, health and safety measures, among others," it stated.
Freedom to choose
Even though more indoor areas are now accessible, numerous volunteers who talked to the SCMP mentioned they still prefer having the option to decide where they can meet.
The assistant at the Bayanihan Centre, Baldonaza, mentioned that she continues to favor meeting friends in open-air public areas for leisure activities.
if you arrive here, your only concern is the lessons," she stated. "you can't remain here if you're looking for relaxation.
This facility provides numerous services for household workers, but it isn't about leisure. We enjoy spending time with our friends and having conversations with them.
Johannie Tong Hiu-yan, a community relations officer with the Mission for Migrant Workers, stated that although having indoor areas was beneficial, the centers were intended for lessons and structured events.
She stated that helpers shouldn't be forced to perform certain tasks merely to obtain a place to relax outside of their employer's residence.
"It's not as though they are on the streets and dissatisfied with their situation. For numerous migrants, this is simply part of life," she stated.
It appears that despite being seated on the street, they still display happy expressions.
Although proposals to open more areas, like schools, for volunteers were "welcomed," Tong stated that they shouldn't be required to utilize these spaces.
They will decide for themselves," she stated. "If it causes inconvenience to the public, then we must reconsider why this situation arises in the first place.
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