On Thursday 28 August we were delighted to be joined for the launch of our latest research report by many friends and representatives – including from the Labour Department, seven Consulates, the Equal Opportunities Commission, NGOs, Universities, Foundations and Companies. Quite simply, we can’t do what we do alone – so this was also a wonderful opportunity to thank each and everyone for their collaboration and partnership.
Policy in the Home: Hong Kong Employers Confront Migrant Domestic Worker Pregnancy is the third in a series of employer focused publications by PathFinders. It provides an in-depth analysis of conversations with employers who were asked how they would respond to news that their migrant domestic worker (MDW) is pregnant.
Research Highlights
During the launch event our Systemic Change Manager, Livia Liu, shared insights from her conversations with four employers, who reported feeling uncertain about how to respond to a pregnancy announcement, carry out maternity protections and provide leave. She detailed how varying levels of stress were driven by three key concern, which diminish significantly when they are able to resolve logistical challenges – ensuring household operations continue smoothly – even if this means avoiding legal obligations to provide maternity protection and leave.
- How to maintain their household needs without the usual paid care
- Fear of any responsibility or liability for the MDW’s prenatal – and baby’s – health and safety
- Challenges in managing spatial constraints of housing a mother and newborn
The report highlights how important labour regulations are for establishing fair and equal working standards for MDWs – including maternity rights. It also surfaced how the live-in rule compounds spatial constraints in Hong Kong employers’ small apartments and thrusts impossible choices upon both employers and MDWs.
Fireside Chat
Following the research presentation guests were then treated to a Fireside Chat, expertly moderated by award-winning independent journalist Raquel Carvalho, between an esteemed panel – Prof Adam Cheung (Hong Kong Baptist University), Ms. Winnie Wong (Asia Insurance Company Ltd), and our very own Research and Development Director, Radha Shah.
Our panel shared their expertise, offered insights on current policy challenges and proposed actionable next steps to drive meaningful change.
Call to Action & Recommendations
In closing our CEO, Catherine Gurtin, shared how based on our research we increasingly understand and demonstrate how the absence of adequate knowledge, policies, and solutions compromise an employer’s ability to provide maternity protections and how improvements in a number of areas can increase MDW job security, healthcare and parenting rights.
To this end, we will now focus on a number of recommendations and look forward to collaborating with multiple partners to progress these as part of our Systemic Change strategy, focused on driving long-term change by testing and creating solutions that enable employers to offer pregnant MDWs job security while maintaining their own household needs.
- Mandate training by the Labour Department for all first-time employers to enhance knowledge on contractual obligations and maternity leave rights
- Develop a maternity protections training manual and sessions to provide employers with guidance and practical support to manage an MDW pregnancy
- Improve official guidance by the Labour Department on maternity leave arrangements outside of Hong Kong, including, contract continuity and temporary replacement work
- Establish cross-sector collaborations with insurance companies and LDW agencies to create affordable and viable solutions for employers
