24-Hour Mandatory Rest Day or 11 Hours Uninterrupted Rest For Domestic Helpers in HK

A 24-hour mandatory rest day should be given to domestic helpers, said Vice Consul Alex Vallespin.

Last January, a meeting was conducted between the Philippine Consulate and Immigration departments tackling about the issue of rest days which were not given Overseas Filipino Workers. According to Vallespin, no employers are allowed to deny a 24-hour rest day to their domestic helpers.

The 24-hour period starts from the midnight of the rest day up until the midnight of the next day.

Vallespin added that this rest day can be flexible especially those domestic helpers taking care of sick patients. He also promised to provide necessary move regarding the implementation of Standard Employment Contract for domestic helpers.

Vallespin is also pushing through the food allowance and rest hours for Filipino domestic helpers on their meeting with Philippine officials, Immigration officials and Hong Kong’s Labour.

As for the 11 hours of continuous rest, as long as there is a mass support for those uninterrupted rest, they are willing to take it up. This “11 hours of uninterrupted rest” was taken up after a group of migrant workers talked to Hong Kong Chief Executive C.Y Leung regarding the said petition.

This “11 hours of uninterrupted rest” ensures that every domestic helpers in Hong Kong are given hours of uninterrupted rest, especially those DH residing with their employers.