On the occasion of International Domestic Workers’ Day on July 16, the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body Hong Kong (AMCB-IMA-HKM) relaunched the 3W campaign, which stands for the fight for a living wage, proper working hours, and workers’ rights.

This day is celebrated annually around the world every June 16, in recognition of the International Labor Organization Domestic Workers Convention No. 189. This regulation sets global labor standards for domestic workers.

The AMCB-IMA-HKM is a coalition of migrant organizations based in Hong Kong. Its members come from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. AMCB is also one of the founders of the International Migrants Alliance, an alliance of various migrant and refugee organizations against imperialism.

More than 300,000 migrant domestic workers are in Hong Kong. The majority are from Indonesia and the Philippines. They are responsible for caring for children and the elderly, allowing Hong Kong residents to work without worrying about their families. Despite their contributions, Hong Kong society does not recognize their status.

Based on cases handled by AMCB-IMA HKM this year, working conditions for migrant domestic workers continue to deteriorate. They are treated as second class citizens and paid slave wages.

From January to June 2025, the group received more than 916 complaints from migrant domestic workers. Most of these were about long working hours, lack of regular day-offs, and problems with contract termination and housing.

Among the migrants who filed complaints, 376 or 41% were made to work for 11 to 16 hours by their employers. About 11% of them were made to work for more than 16 hours. Although their contracts state that domestic workers have 24 hours for rest, this is rarely enforced. More than 11% of migrants have no regular rest day.

Dismissals of domestic workers are also arbitrary. Among those who sought help from AMCB-IMA-HKM, 4% were dismissed in less than six months. Of the 349 who completed their contracts, many were maliciously accused of “job hopping,” which is strictly prohibited in Hong Kong.

Domestic workers have no right to change jobs, even if they face poor working conditions or abuse from their employers. Meanwhile, employers can replace them for any reason.

Migrant groups in Hong Kong are calling on the Hong Kong Central Government to grant domestic workers a living wage of HK$6,172, to implement the ILO Domestic Workers Convention (ILO C189) which recognizes domestic workers as equal to other wage earners, and to ensure acceptable minimum standards for working conditions.