About > Milestones

Milestones

FADWU’s leaders and affiliates have charted new paths and broken barriers. As an organization led by domestic workers, FADWU spearheads advocacy efforts and facilitates outreach initiatives. FADWU directly and independently empowers Domestic Workers to raise their vocies to address injustice and advance their rights.
2008 Discussions are held to establish a labour union for domestic workers of different nationalities.
2010 FADWU is founded.
2011 FADWU representatives attend the International Labour Conference in Geneva and participate in negotiations on the landmark Convention 189 (C189), which sets standards for decent work for domestic workers and the entitlement to the same rights as workers in any other sector.
2012 The Phililppine ratifies C189, after lobbying from unions and NGO’s.
2014 PLU publishes a report on exploitative practices carried out by employment agencies in the Philippine. 87 agencies are subsequently closed by the authorities.
2016 FADWU conducts research and publishes a report finding that the vast majority of Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong are illegally overcharged by agencies, in violation of both HKSAR and Philipphines law.
2017 In response to the issues raised by FADWU and varous other organizations, HKSAR Labour Department enacts the Code of Practice for employment agencies, (CoP) setting out legal requirements and minimum standards to be met, and added a window cleaning clause to the standard employment contract.
2018

FADWU continues to monitor the effectiveness of the CoP and publishes a follow up report. The report finds that 96% of agencies continue to violate the laws and CoP.

HKSAR amends the Employment Ordinance to raise the maximum penalty for agencies overcharging domestic workers and operating without a license.
2019

Hong Kong’s Labour Tribunal allows video conferencing in a MDWs’ case for the first time, making it easier for workers to seek justice through Hong Kong’s legal system even after leaving the territory. The landmark decision to allow video link and union representation came after court appeals by FADWU and Justice Without Borders.

FADWU condusts research and publishes a report and documentary on the challenges faced by domestic workers seeking to resolve labour cases through the HKSAR justice system.
2020 Amid the COVID outbreak in Hong Kong, FADWU conducts special outreach and fundraising for domestic workers, addressing the extensive vulnerabilities arising from quarantine measures and public health risks.
2021 FADWU continues to monitor and conducts follow up research assessing the compliance of employment agencies with the CoP after 5 years of implementation. The report shows that the implementation is basically non existent. FADWU calls for a total review of the CoP.
2022 FADWU raises awareness of discrimination faced by MDWs due to COVID-19, such as visa rejection for so called “job-hopping”, homelessness, wage deduction, compulsory testing and imposing penalties without properly informing workers of new regulations. FADWU keeps MDWs updated of constantly changing regulations.
2022-2024 The Hong Kong government reviews and amends the CoP. FADWU raises concerns over the amendments, which favour employers, and questions the effectiveness of the CoP.
2023-2024 FADWU helps recover 1 million HKD in workers’ claims (including salaries and agency fees) through case handling for over 200 domestic workers. MDW’s passports are also recovered in many cases.