As an aging society, the Hong Kong government has, in recent years, been actively promoting aging-in-place initiatives while addressing the mental stress and health challenges faced by caregivers. Numerous campaigns and services have been introduced to support caregivers. However, one group of caregivers has long been overlooked—Migrant Domestic Workers, who provide care for 26% of elderly individuals living at home.

Hello, we are the Caritas Asian Migrant Domestic Workers Social Service Project, and today we will be discussing the mental health of Migrant Domestic Workers.

Migrant Domestic Workers leave their homes to work in Hong Kong, taking care of our elderly and children. However, despite being caregivers themselves, their circumstances are often ignored. Many people hold the mindset that since they are paid, they should accept the hardships they face—justifying the moral exclusion they experience as a simple employer-employee relationship.

We have observed that Migrant Domestic Workers from the Philippines often hide their inner distress behind a smile, while Migrant Domestic Workers from Indonesia tend to be highly submissive. Through our services, we’ve uncovered the realities behind this suppression.

Firstly, in terms of workload, Migrant Domestic Workers often work more than 12 hours a day, performing physically demanding tasks such as household chores and lifting elderly individuals. Many Migrant Domestic Workers cannot relax and sleep properly even at night, as they need to constantly worry about elderly employers falling while going to the bathroom. In some cases, employers fail to arrange additional caregiving support, leaving Migrant Domestic Workers with no rest days. This creates high mental stress for them. The long-term lack of rest leads to anxiety, prolonged fatigue, irritability, and various psychosomatic symptoms.

Migrant Domestic Workers also face systemic challenges when working in Hong Kong. For example, during their first contract, they are not allowed to resign, whereas employers can terminate the contract without consequences. In a fair employment relationship, both employers and employees should have the right to choose. While the Labour Ordinance typically includes a probation period, Migrant Domestic Workers are excluded from this.

Additionally, Migrant Domestic Workers must pay agency fees equivalent to a year’s salary for training and placement, which creates debt bondage, making it difficult for them to leave their jobs. If they try to quit in the first two-year contract, they risk being labelled as “job hoppers” by Immigration Department, which could result in visa rejections.

This norm forces Migrant Domestic Workers to complete their first two-year contract, even in cases of prolonged sexual harassment or psychological abuse. Many Migrant Domestic Workers endure such conditions, creating a vicious cycle that prevents the improvement of their safety and work environment and often leads to mental health disorders.

And we would like to address another source of immense pressure for Migrant Domestic Workers: online criticism. Some employers post individual Migrant Domestic Workers’ behaviour on social media for public scrutiny, which often results in stigmatization and prejudice. This damages the trust between employers and Migrant Domestic Workers, contributing to widespread social exclusion. Such conditions make life in Hong Kong even more oppressive for Migrant Domestic Workers. It’s important to remember that Migrant Domestic Workers are not just workers or tools—they are living, breathing human beings.

On the other hand, many Migrant Domestic Workers have shared that kind treatment from employers makes Hong Kong feel like a second home for them. Simple gestures, such as respecting their dietary preferences and allowing them to cook their own food, showing care and understanding for their lives, and breaking down prejudices and stereotypes to build genuine interactions, caring about their health and allowing them to medication when needed, can significantly improve their mental health.

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we urge Hong Kong citizens, employers, and policymakers to take cultural and policy-level actions to genuinely promote labour-friendly practices and dignity. Let’s work together to make Hong Kong a worker-friendly city.