Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun today met Acting Consul-General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong Slamet Noegroho to reiterate Hong Kong’s stance on the issue of placement fees for the employment of Indonesian domestic helpers.

Mr Sun made it clear that in order to maintain cordial, mutually beneficial and close co-operation between Hong Kong and Indonesia, no change should be made by Indonesia to arrangements for the placement of Indonesian domestic helpers in Hong Kong that would increase the burden on Hong Kong employers or undermine employment opportunities for such helpers.

He added that even if changes were to be made, Hong Kong should not be singled out for different treatment compared to other places.

Mr Sun stated: “Mr Noegroho clarified at the meeting that there is no change to the cost structure of fees for arranging Indonesian domestic helpers to work in Hong Kong.

“The Acting Consul-General said that both governments’ policies and regulations remain the same, and issues relevant to the employment of Indonesian domestic helpers in Hong Kong should continuously be discussed between the Indonesian Government and the Hong Kong SAR Government.”

Regarding information disseminated by the Indonesian Manpower Placement Agency Association to employment agencies in Hong Kong last week, Mr Noegroho told Mr Sun that the association does not represent the Indonesian Government.

The Labour & Welfare Bureau said the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to talk and work with the Indonesian consulate-general in protecting the interests of Indonesian helpers in Hong Kong, as well as those of their employers, with the aim of maintaining Hong Kong as an attractive place for foreign domestic helpers to come to work.

The Hong Kong SAR Government will also hold discussions with other places, including Bangladesh and Cambodia, to widen the potential sources of foreign domestic helpers for the city, the bureau added.