Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Stephen Ip reiterated that the conditions offered to foreign domestic helpers here are rational and the recent reduction in minimum salary for them complies with the existing wage mechanism.

The Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has issued an order to suspend the processing of all contracts for domestic helpers coming to work here.

He said the export of labour is an internal affair for the Philippines. He said when people look to work in Hong Kong, they will consider factors including wages, working conditions and legal protection.