Migrant Women Domestic Workers in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

The concentration of women in certain occupations has been the main feature characterizing the feminization of migration in the Asian region during the last two decades. A gender-sensitive approach is essential in understanding the particular vulnerability facing these migrant women workers. This paper is concerned with the situation of migrant women domestic workers in East and Southeast Asia. It discusses the context of housework that has rendered migrant women domestic workers vulnerable to abuses and violence. It compares and contrasts the legal systems in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan and addresses the inadequacy of the respective legal systems in dealing with the vulnerability of these women workers. Using Hong Kong as a case, it discusses the measures that have been adopted to provide better protection for migrant labor. This paper suggests that, in order to provide effective protection for the rights of these women, it is important for respective governments to take into account the particular vulnerability facing them as a result of the context of their employment.