When they are concluded she may still be required to return to her country of origin without the chance to take up new employment. Exploitation of FDHs is widespread. They may find themselves the victims both of the rapacity of the employment agencies which recruit them and of unscrupulous employers who force them to undertake non-domestic work in offices, restaurants and factories. Contracts are frequently terminated for the flimsiest reasons, often late at night and the helper simply put out on the street. Immigration controls are enforced with great rigour, which means that FDHs are vulnerable to finding themselves before the criminal courts on charges of overstaying their visas or working in unapproved employments.
Sentences can be severe.
As a result, a substantial proportion of the female population of Hong Kong's prisons consists of FDHs. It will be apparent from this brief account that FDHs encounter serious problems as a result of the very stringent immigration regime affecting them and because of the employment disputes which frequently arise. However, as low earners they are seldom in a position to pay for the services of a lawyer and yet are frequently in need of legal advice and assistance.