The content of this webpage is derived from a research project titled "Strangers/Helpers at Home: Hong Kong Families with Foreign Domestic Workers" conducted by Hong Kong Baptist University. This research project is funded by the Early Career Scheme of the Research Grants Council, led by Dr. Adam Ka-Lok Cheung, Associate Professor of the Department of Sociology at Hong Kong Baptist University. This webpage summarizes and shares the findings of this research project, with the digitization project supported by the Hong Kong Baptist University Library. We have made the research summary and some of the original data available to the public, aiming to help the general public, social welfare organizations, scholars, and the media better understand the situation faced by Hong Kong families employing foreign domestic helpers and to serve as a reference for policy advocacy.
As of the end of 2023, Hong Kong is home to approximately 356,000 migrant domestic workers. They are integral members of many households and serve as caregivers for numerous children during their formative years. These migrant domestic workers significantly contribute to the local female labor force participation rate. However, previous research has paid little attention to the families employing these workers. This research project aims to address this gap by collecting data through a representative household survey involving a random sample of 2,003 participants and conducting more than 30 in-depth interviews. It systematically investigates the reasons for hiring migrant domestic workers, interaction and division of labor patterns, challenges encountered, and the positive and negative impacts of employing these workers on Hong Kong families.
The findings indicate that families employing migrant domestic workers have diverse experiences, encompassing both positive and negative aspects. We summarize the various factors related to these experiences to provide valuable insights for relevant parties.
This website will publicly release most of the original data from the household survey, excerpts from some in-depth interviews, and summaries of published academic articles for reference by local and overseas stakeholders. This information aims to assist them in forming reasonable expectations and making more informed decisions. Additionally, these insights are valuable for social welfare organizations dealing with family issues and policymakers during the advocacy process, thereby promoting a harmonious coexistence between society and migrant domestic workers.
In Hong Kong, employing migrant domestic workers is becoming increasingly common. As of the end of 2023, the number of foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong stands at approximately 356,000, with a notable increase of 66,000 female foreign workers over the past decade, primarily from the Philippines, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian countries. According to a survey conducted by the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department in 2019, out of 2.66 million households, approximately 350,000 households (13.4% of all domestic households) employed domestic workers. Among them, about 28,000 households (7.9%) hired local domestic workers, while 328,000 households (92.2%) opted for foreign domestic workers. The survey also revealed that households with 2 or fewer children are more inclined to hire foreign workers. All foreign domestic workers are employed full-time, providing services that include cleaning, household organization, grocery shopping, cooking, childcare, laundry, and ironing.
The history of employing domestic workers in Hong Kong is long-standing. In the early 20th century, wealthy Chinese families relied on free or enslaved men and women for household work. Young female contract workers, known as "Mui Tsai" (妹仔), were primarily hired as domestic workers, a practice that continued until the 1940s when female refugees seeking domestic work began to replace them. However, at that time, the general adoption of domestic workers was still not widespread among local households.
Entering the 1970s, with the industrialization of Hong Kong, more women began to work outside the home, enjoying a more independent lifestyle and higher social status. Nevertheless, a significant gender disparity in household labor division persisted, with women bearing a much larger share of domestic responsibilities compared to men. This dual pressure of work and family became a challenge for many women, impacting their labor force participation rates. In 1973, the government implemented a policy allowing foreign individuals to serve as "domestic helpers", making the employment of domestic workers a feasible option for many families in Hong Kong.
Since the 1980s, the demand for full-time domestic workers in Hong Kong has surged. The number of full-time live-in migrant domestic workers has increased from approximately 22,000 in 1982 to about 356,000 in 2023. This growth trend is closely associated with the rise in female labor force participation rates and the increase in dual-income families. Despite the continuous rise in the number of families employing migrant domestic workers, there has been limited societal attention to the impact of this trend on family life in Hong Kong, and little exploration of the experiences and challenges faced by employers.
Some argue that outsourcing household tasks to domestic workers can save time and reduce conflicts between work and family. However, many employers report difficulties in interacting with migrant domestic workers. To deepen understanding, we will introduce some of the latest sociological research findings on this topic on this website, hoping to stimulate more discussions and attention regarding household outsourcing.
Outsourcing services like construction, cleaning, and security are common in contemporary society. However, it is interesting to note that outsourcing also occurs in our daily household lives. According to research in family sociology, "domestic outsourcing" refers to purchasing household services, including commercial laundry, childcare, gardening, home maintenance, and even opting for dining out or ordering takeout instead of cooking at home.
In Western countries, families typically do not hire full-time domestic workers. Instead, they flexibly purchase various services based on their needs. This arrangement not only avoids long-term commitments but also allows for adjustments at any time. However, in Hong Kong, many families choose to employ foreign domestic workers who simultaneously handle multiple household tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and childcare. In this scenario, migrant domestic workers often have long working hours and are subject to the constraints of their employment contracts, significantly reducing the flexibility of their services.
The process of hiring migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong is relatively cumbersome, requiring employers to conduct interviews, wait for visas, and sign contracts lasting two years. Unlike in other countries, foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong are required to live with their employers, leading to frequent interactions with family members. This makes the employer's investment and commitment appear more significant. This "all-in-one" model of domestic outsourcing contrasts sharply with the flexible outsourcing models seen in Western countries, resulting in higher demands on family resources and deeper impacts on family relationships and interaction patterns.
Research on domestic outsourcing presents diverse viewpoints and controversies. Some scholars argue that domestic outsourcing helps improve family time allocation, marital relationships, and gender role balance, while others contend that it does not bring substantial improvements to gender division and family dynamics. Our research indicates that employing foreign domestic workers brings positive effects to local families while generating some challenges. Please refer to the "Research Summary" section for more research findings. For in-depth case studies and statistical figures, feel free to check the "Interview Cases" and "Research Data" sections.