Unions have called for a pay rise of no less than 3.5 percent for local domestic helpers this year and harsher law enforcement against illegal workers. This came as the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions and Home Services Employees Association surveyed nearly 200 helpers and found that more than half of the respondents were earning HK$120 or less per hour. One fourth of the respondents are not satisfied with their earnings, the survey showed. One helper, Wong Yau-ching, said there were fewer job opportunities around now compared to before the pandemic and that the pay was lower. She believed the decline in job opportunities was happening because of illegal workers. “In the past, there were over 200 job opportunities a day and we could choose one with a convenient location and suitable time," Wong said. "But now there are only dozens of jobs a day. We have no choice and may have to take jobs even if they are far away.” Federation chairman and lawmaker Lam Chun-sing appealed to the government to step up law enforcement against illegal workers. For example, it can work with mainland authorities to look into social media posts made by suspected illegal workers, he said. Lam also said local domestic helpers were expected to face particularly heavy workloads with spring cleaning in the run-up to the Lunar New Year and hoped employers could offer an hourly salary of no less than HK$175.