Hong Kong Students Design App to Match Domestic Workers with Employers

November 4, 201711:00 am682 views

A new mobile app for matching domestic workers and employers has attracted some 20,000 members and successfully paired at least 60 of them in Hong Kong since its first launch in September. Created by two students from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the app shares data and information among domestic workers, employers, as well as employment agencies for free.

Named as “MamaHelpers”, domestic workers will need to upload their data and information on the platform, so potential employers can contact them directly. At first, maids have to register their names on the app by the end of this year to ensure the authenticity and validity of any information they post, Asia Times reports.

While the shared information can be obtained for free, employers need to pay certain amount of money when they want to hire a domestic worker through the platform. Employers have to spend HK$1,429 (US$183) for the paperwork on contract renewal, plus HK$1,598 for local direct hiring, or finding a worker who has finished a work contract.

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So Tze-yan, one of the “MamaHelpers” founders, said that these charges are only about half the market price. In Hong Kong, hiring domestic workers from overseas costs about HK$5,200. To make the hiring process more effective, eight employment agencies are included because some employers want the agency to help filter candidates in order to save time for hiring. Meanwhile, the charger will depend on the agency.

Co-founder of the platform, Leung Yat-yin said that his team is on the process of building a partnership with training schools in the Philippines and Indonesia, which contribute most of the domestic works in Hong Kong. While the maids need to register their personal information, all information will be encrypted to keep the confidentiality.

Shiella Estrada, chairperson of the Progressive Labour Union of Domestic Workers, said some maids reported that they had received nuisance calls after installing a similar app, and said that she was concerned about the risk of personal information being leaked to irresponsible parties.

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