The concentration of women in certain occupations has been the main feature characterizing the feminization of migration in the Asian region during the last two decades. A gender-sensitive approach is essential in understanding the particular vulnerability facing these migrant women workers. This paper is concerned with the situation of migrant women domestic workers in East and Southeast Asia. It discusses the context of housework thathas rendered migrant women domestic workers vulnerable to abuses and violence. It compares and contrasts the legal systems in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan and addresses the inadequacy of the respective legal systems in dealing with the vulnerability of these women workers. Using Hong Kong as a case, it discusses the measures that have been adopted to provide better protection for migrant labor. This paper suggests that, in order to provide effective protection for the rights of these women, it is important for respective governments to take into account the particular vulnerability facing them as a result of the context of their employment.

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Labor Force--women Studies Research Methodology Comparative Studies China Microeconomic Factors International Migration--women legislation women's migration law economics population methodology demography developing country domestic labour Housework--women labour migration Population Dynamics Research Report Developing Countries Asia Social Problems comparative study Far East international comparison Eastern Asia Taiwan developing region Employment--women Domestic Violence health care manpower Asia, Southeastern Health Manpower social problem Southeast Asia Migrants--women hospital service Article migration Singapore Demographic Factors Southeastern Asia research Hong Kong Emigration and Immigration Economic Factors Transients and Migrants Human Resources Macroeconomic Factors employment crime Housekeeping women's issue