A video highlighting the huge wealth gap that exists in Hong Kong, one of the richest cities in the world, has gone viral online. The video shows domestic workers congregating on Hong Kong’s bridges and underpasses on their weekly day off. For privacy, they installed cardboard boxes whose flimsy walls provide a modicum of shelter from the bustling metropolitan area.
An influencer shared a video of the cardboard ‘houses’ on Instagram and pointed out how Hong Kong’s real estate sector has left out its backbone: the domestic workers who keep the city running.
The influencer, named Rapha, explained that Hong Kong has a “habitation” rule that requires foreign domestic helpers to live in their employer’s residence. Due to this rule, domestic workers from countries such as Indonesia do not have residency in Hong Kong. On their weekly day off, they are forced to spend time in public areas, using large cardboard boxes for shelter and privacy.
“The invisible labor crisis”
Rapha called it “Hong Kong’s invisible labor crisis.” “Hong Kong runs on labor it refuses to host,” the Japanese content creator wrote on Instagram, sharing a video of women sleeping and sitting on cardboard boxes.
“Every Sunday, thousands of women in the Philippines and Indonesia are forced to leave the luxury apartments they clean and the daycare centers where they raise the city’s elite. Due to the mandatory ‘live at home’ rule, they literally have no space of their own,” she said.
(Also read: ‘She works from 5 am to 9:30 pm’: Domestic worker in Singapore alleges food shortage, forced to buy essentials)
“On their only day off, they are effectively left homeless. They congregate on bridges and underpasses, building makeshift ‘rooms’ out of cardboard boxes just to find a shred of privacy in the eyes of a city that depends on them but treats them as temporary fixtures,” he added.
The post highlighted the “brutal wealth gap” that exists in Hong Kong as the Instagram user criticized the city’s elite for forcing their domestic workers to spend their day off in crowded and noisy public spaces.
An intense debate on workers’ rights
The video has garnered 2.7 million views in one day, sparking a conversation about ethical conduct and workers’ rights.
“As Voltaire said, for the comfort of the rich it is necessary to have an abundance of the poor,” said one person in the comments section.
(Also read: Domestic worker in Singapore alleges British Indian family made her sleep on a yoga mat: ‘I felt uncomfortable’)
“There has never been a luxury unless it is built on the foundation of suffering,” said another.
“Totally false narrative. All of these maids have room and board with their employers. They meet up on their day off and set up to eat, nap, and meet friends. At 9:00 pm they packed up, cleaned up, and went home,” one user responded.
“Hong Kong offers many places where you can go for little money or for free. Beautiful parks, hiking trails, beaches, museums, markets, etc. Those young women decide to go to this bridge and enjoy time together. It’s their choice! Why don’t we let them spend their day off however they want, okay?” Another agreed.
