Charity urges live-in exemption for domestic helpers who give birth in Hong Kong

A charity has called for an exemption to the live-in rule for domestic helpers who give birth in Hong Kong, saying newborns can be separated from their mothers because of the requirement.

A report released on Monday by the charity Pathfinders also called for the implementation of training and guidelines for employers to prevent maternity-related issues. The group supports migrant mothers and their children and handles about 16 pregnant clients a month.

“The reality is, if a pregnancy happens, it’s very challenging for an individual employer to manage,” Pathfinders CEO Catherine Gurtin said.

“Most people do not understand what their obligations are … so then we see children and workers being separated in those very early and important days after birth.”

Hong Kong is home to around 370,000 domestic helpers, mostly women and predominantly from the Philippines and Indonesia.

According to the Labour Department, employers are required to provide helpers with 14 weeks of paid maternity leave if they have been working for at least 40 consecutive weeks. Helpers who have worked fewer weeks are still entitled to unpaid maternity leave.