60392    It was established five years ago in May 1989.

60393    There are around 3,000 members.

60394    The Union runs its activities from monthly fees of ten Hong Kong dollars and entry fees of 30 Hong Kong dollars, money given from whatever is left over for living expenses after sending money back home.

60395    Borongan advises members while also working as a maid herself for her Hong Kong employers.

60396    At the headquarters, different kinds of complaints are stored on a computer list.

60397    The most common are examples of labor violations.

60398    There are numerous examples of women coming to Hong Kong with a domestic help contract, only to be asked by their employers to work in other places, such as factories.

60399    Cases of wage disputes, termination without reason, and sexual abuse are also not uncommon.

60400    Work visas become invalid if employment is terminated and the worker must return home.

60401    For this reason, it is difficult to turn down requests to work long hours or on holidays.

60402    Working conditions in Hong Kong households are not good.

60403    Some households go so far as to have the maid instead of the mother sleep with the baby or give the baby milk repeatedly through the night.

60404    Besides Filipinos, the numbers of Asians working as maids in Hong Kong are on the rise.

60405    A glance at the Union member's list reveals Thai, Indian, Sri Lankan, Pakistani, Nepalese and Indonesian nationalities.

60406    "Will employment of foreigners be accepted as before?" "Will we be eventually chased out by the influx of cheap female labor from the Chinese mainland?"