Other support to FDHs and related promotion and publicity efforts

1. In 1994, the Government leased a former school site in Kennedy Town to the Hong Kong Bayanihan Trust for setting up an Overseas Domestic Helpers Centre for FDHs to gather and organise activities on their rest days. The centre has been operating till now, attracting up to 1 800 FDHs to use its facilities on every Sunday and public holiday.
2. FDHs enjoy free access to all the services that the Government provides to the local workforce. FDHs also have equal access to justice. Aggrieved FDHs may seek redress through legal proceedings and may apply for legal aid if they meet the eligibility criteria which also apply to local workers.

Related promotional and publicity efforts

3. The Government has made extensive efforts in promoting the rights of FDHs. LD enhances FDHs’ understanding of their rights under labour laws and SEC through a series of publicity and educational work, including producing practical guides, leaflets and posters in a number of FDHs’ mother languages, staging information kiosks at popular gathering locations of FDHs during their rest days, organising roving exhibitions, placing advertisements in local newspapers usually read by FDHs, broadcasting television and radio Announcements in the Public Interest, etc.
4. LD has also launched a dedicated and multi-lingual (including Tagalog, Indonesian, Thai and Khmer as well as Chinese and English) website in April 2016 related to the employment of FDHs.
5. In addition, LD works closely with the Consulate Generals (CGs) of major FDH home countries by frequently participating in briefings for newly-arrived FDHs, and major social and cultural events organised by these consulates for their nationals in the HKSAR, so as to reach out to FDHs directly. Besides, the Government has established a regular liaison mechanism with CGs concerned to enhance collaboration and coordination of publicity efforts, and to share intelligence and views on FDH-related matters.
6. As regards SLS, imported workers are each required to attend a briefing conducted by LD within eight weeks upon their arrival. Publicity leaflets and information cards are distributed to imported workers to ensure their understanding of their rights and protection as well as the channels available for enquiries and assistance. LD also publicises the rights and obligations of imported workers and their employers through various channels.