Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong were granted a HK$100 increase on their monthly salary, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed on Thursday, Oct. 6.
The new Hong Kong Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW) took effect on October 1, according to DMW.
This is equivalent to a P750 salary increase on the monthly allowable wage of foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), according to DMW Secretary Susan Ople.
"The increase in pay comes after a two-year wage freeze in HK due to the Covid-19 pandemic. At this time of rising prices due to a stronger US dollar, this new minimum wage hike is a boon to our kasambahays (domestic workers) in HK," said Ople.
Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Hong Kong (POLO-HK) said the HK Immigration Department reported that there were 188,171 OFWs in Hong Kong as of August 2022.
DMW said Filipino workers are more than half of HK's foreign domestic workers, estimated at 333,000.
Starting Oct. 1, OFWs will receive a monthly salary of HK$4,730, or equivalent to P35,475, based on the prevailing currency exchange rate.
OFWs are also getting extra pay for their new minimum food allowance.
From the previous HK$1,173 (P8,797) food allowance for foreign domestic workers, the HK Labor Department raised it to HK$1,196 or equivalent to P8,970.
However, the food allowance takes effect only for domestic workers who 'live out' or outside of their employer's residence.
To date, foreign domestic workers in Taiwan remain the top earner in terms of monthly earnings, getting NT$20,000 or equivalent to P37,200; Hong Kong with P35,475; and Singapore with SGD600 or P24,659.