How coronavirus pushes Hong Kong domestic workers into debt traps

When Rose, a Filipino domestic worker in Hong Kong, learned that a relative had developed cancer, she felt she had no option but to turn to a loan company. The migrant worker, who has lived in the city for about a decade, borrowed about HK$20,000 at the end of last year so she could help with the necessary medication and treatments.Rose promptly started paying back the loan in HK$3,000 monthly instalments – more than half of her salary. But then the coronavirus crisis hit Hong Kong late in…