During their day off, foreign domestic assistants in Hong Kong frequently congregate in what are known as street cardboard fortresses.
The volunteers have a place to kick back, catch up with one another, and mingle in these fortresses, which are constructed out of cardboard boxes.The cardboard fortifications on the streets have become a symbol of the community of foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong, and they serve as a constant reminder of the discrimination and exploitation that these workers are subjected to.
Helpers are frequently required to do their duties in solitary environments; hence, the fortresses offer them a sense of community and a source of support.The first street cardboard fortresses were constructed in the early 2000s by a group of aid workers from the Philippines.
These fortifications initially appeared in the early 2000s. It didn't take long for the fortresses to become popular gathering spots for domestic assistants, and their popularity quickly extended to other areas of Hong Kong.
These cardboard fortifications serve as a visual reminder of the prejudice and exploitation that foreign domestic assistants in Hong Kong are subjected to on a daily basis. It is common practise to pay these workers poor wages and provide them with few or no benefits.
In addition, they are frequently treated as if they were second-class people. In addition to this, they frequently put in long hours and are not granted any days off.The cardboard fortresses on the streets offer the aid workers a place to unwind and interact with one another, and they serve as a constant reminder of the community and support that these employees enjoy.