Migrant workers’ groups slam Hong Kong government for excluding domestic helpers in second batch of consumption vouchers
The criticism follows Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s announcement on Monday to expand the scheme to include those eligible for permanent residency, adding an extra 300,000 people and pushing up costs by HK$1.7 billion to HK$68.1 billion.
Foreign talent, entrepreneurs and students can apply to receive half of the scheme’s total of HK$10,000, but Chan stopped short of extending it to those who do not qualify for permanent residency. This includes domestic helpers, many of whom come from Indonesia and the Philippines.
Eman Villanueva, a spokesman for the Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body, said the union had appealed to authorities to provide more financial aid to helpers since the onset of the pandemic.