Female migrant domestic worker experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong: A qualitative study

During the COVID-19 pandemic, international migrant workers were often at risk of increased hardships due to disrupted employment, insecure residency status, and stringent government pandemic policies. Migrant domestic workers (MDW) who are typically required to live in the home of their employer, away from social support networks, may face additional stressors and vulnerabilities. This study seeks to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on female MDWs in Hong Kong. Semi-structured, one-on-one interviews were conducted from June 2021 to May 2022 with 20 female MDWs currently employed in Hong Kong. The study explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the MDWs: employment conditions, economic situation, family and social networks, and personal health. Thematic analysis, informed by the Employment Conditions and Health Inequalities Framework, was conducted on the interview data. Participants reported negative changes to employment conditions including new job duties, longer working hours, and not receiving statutory days off. Participants also felt that government COVID-19 policies unfairly targeted MDWs. Although MDWs often reported tolerating the negative work-related impacts of the pandemic to provide for left-behind family, MDWs would commonly seek other employment to cope with their employer-related difficulties. Additional stressors faced by MDWs during the COVID-19 pandemic were largely attributable to existing regulations and pandemic-related MDW policies that limited their autonomy. Improving the well-being of MDWs, particularly during public health crises, necessitates regulatory reforms that include MDW mental health as a priority area.