There’s been mixed reaction to the government’s revised code of practice for employment agencies that is in part drawn up to deter foreign domestic helpers from "job-hopping". Under the rules, agencies cannot offer money to encourage helpers to terminate their contracts early. They also need to clearly brief jobseekers on immigration rules regarding changes of employer. The chairwoman of the Hong Kong Employers of Overseas Domestic Helpers Association Betty Yung, welcomed the changes, saying it will be made very clear to workers that they should aim to complete their two-year contract. "I think this will at least help to give a very clear concept to all domestic helpers that they should complete the contract because they have signed two years, right?” she said. Yung added that the renewed guidelines will have a deterrent effect on agencies. She told RTHK that during the pandemic, some companies had encouraged helpers to switch jobs to boost income. "During the period when there were no planes, some agencies had to do their business. They had financial difficulties, so they tried to make business by encouraging some helpers to change jobs." However, Sringatin, who chairs the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union, said the revised code of practice may discourage helpers from leaving a bad working environment. "In this kind of situation, domestic workers are very vulnerable. They are reluctant to make a report because of language barriers," she explained. "They have the right to switch jobs in Hong Kong, and that is not clear in the guidelines. [It should be clearly spelled out] what domestic workers need to do if they experience [bad] working conditions." Sringatin also said the revised code, which bars agencies from disclosing, posting or displaying publicly sensitive information about jobseekers, their families or former employers, will better ensure privacy.
