When the Chinese characters for 'the whole', 'bundle', and 'disperse' are juxtaposed, it refers to the fragmentation or scattering of something. These three characters were used by the women domestic workers who organised the Hong Kong Domestic Workers Union, HKCTU's newest affiliate. But on their head-bands and banners they reversed the order of the characters, implying a reversal of the process of fragmentation. The new meaning suggested in this message is that the 'whole bundle' is brought back together again. This action of 'bringing it back together' symbolises the very nature of their new union, where they are attempting to overcome the fragmentation and isolation caused by the lack of a common workplace, casual employment and working alone in residential homes.


July 8, 2001 - A quilt made from the demands and hopes written by members of the HK Domestic Workers Union is displayed during celebrations to mark the foundation of the new union

The HK Domestic Workers Union was established on July 8, 2001, setting two major precedents in HKCTU's history. It is the first union in which all of the membership and all of the executive committee are women, and the first in which all of the members are casual workers.

With an initial membership of 500, the union has begun a recruitment drive among the 20,000 local domestic helpers employed in Hong Kong. They are usually hired to clean homes and care for children, especially newborn infants. While cleaning work is irregular, caring for newborn infants usually involves contracts of two months and regular half-day work periods. For this work they are paid at an hourly rate averaging HK$60 (US$7.70) for once-a-week tasks, and HK$30 (US$3.85) to HK$60 (US$7.70) per hour for more frequent work.

The HK Domestic Workers Union originated in the retraining centres operated by HKCTU. At three of these centres women workers undertaking domestic worker skills training courses formed discussion groups, and over a year and a half gradually built the foundations of a new union. Training courses for paid domestic work (residential cleaning, child care, care for newborn infants, etc.) are commonly chosen by unemployed women workers lacking formal educational qualifications. However, unlike the other retraining centres, HKCTU's centres combine practical skills training with trade union education and organising. This extends to the defence of workers' rights after retraining programs. HKCTU's retraining centre staff work closely with graduates of training courses to ensure that they are not forced to take sub-standard work or extremely low wages. For example, after a 12 day retraining course in domestic work skills graduates are often placed in work where they are paid only HK$17 per hour. In contrast, the HKCTU retraining centres will support these workers and negotiate with prospective employers to ensure that wages are more than HK$35 (US$4.50) per hour. In this way an informal minimum wage is created.

One of the key organising issues which brought local domestic workers together is the right to receive compensation for work-related injuries. According to a survey conducted by HKCTU in April, the majority of local domestic helpers are not covered by accident insurance: 72 per cent had no insurance coverage and 18 per cent were unsure whether there are covered. This is despite the fact that the Employees' Compensation Ordinance requires employers to provide insurance coverage for injuries at work. However, the employment status of many domestic workers is ambiguous and falls through gaps in existing regulations. For example, most local domestic workers have more than one employer, making it unclear who is responsible for paying insurance premiums.
In response the HK Domestic Workers Union is demanding a centralised scheme managed by the government which provides compensation to all domestic workers. Employers of domestic helpers would be required to contribute to the scheme.

In addition to this, the HK Domestic Workers Union has joined HKCTU's ongoing struggle for a legal minimum wage, and the fight against the 4-18 rule in the Employment Ordinance (See Union Action, May 2001). The reality is that domestic workers have multiple employers, with no single employer providing more than 18 hours of work for 4 consecutive weeks.

The new union has already had its first victory. A protest action was organised against a labour hiring agency which was threatening to change workers' legal status from contract workers to 'self-employed'. This move would deny any protection at all from labour laws. The one-day protest action and press conference organised by the union succeeded in forcing the agency's management to abandon the proposed change.

There is also an everday kind of victory in the union reflected in the important role it plays as a venue for social interaction. HKCTU's retraining centres are a substitute for a common 'workplace', while also forming a base for recruiting new members. In addition to regular social activities and discussion groups, the union plans to hold exhibitions in public housing estates to raise awareness of the rights and working conditions of domestic workers.


A large pink banner decorated with rubber gloves reads: “Iron proof of love” - a reflection on the internal unity and strength of the union. Above it is the logo of the new union.