An employer surnamed Wong faced a storm of criticism online from people in Hong Kong after saying she turned off the air-conditioner in her domestic worker’s room at night because the maid did not ask for permission to use the machine.
Wong said in post on a Facebook group called “Hong Kong Employers of Foreign Domestic Workers Mutual Help Association” she found her maid had put on the air-con without her consent at 1am on Wednesday. Wong said she switched it off and opened the door for ventilation.
At 4am, the woman then found that her maid had closed the door and turned the machine on again.
Wong said she was furious, adding that the maid had not turned the air-con on earlier when the weather was hot prior to a typhoon. She said her maid used to ask her before using the air-cooler.
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Wong told the online group she had originally planned to let her maid use the air-con at night after a three-month probation period but had now decided to remove the socket and put a lock on it.
Wong described her domestic worker as “audacious” – and asked other employers if they let their maids “enjoy” air-con in their rooms.
Wong then faced heavy criticism from other employers, who said she was harsh, cruel and penny-pinching.
Netizens, who saw a screen-cap picture of Wong’s post on other Facebook groups, said employers should not treat their domestic workers like slaves. They said Wong was mean, because she could afford to hire a domestic worker but would not to pay an electricity bill.
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Her post was then blocked by the administrator of the employers’ Facebook page. Wong then posted another message to reopen the discussion; she wanted to know how many employers allowed their domestic workers to use air-con every day in summer.
She said she had treated her maid well by offering her a room with five windows, a double bed and a fan.
Netizens suggested she should sleep in that room if it was so good. Others said Wong was making trouble for herself as her maid would be unable to do her job well without a good night’s sleep.
Betty Yung, chairwoman of the Hong Kong Employers of Overseas Domestic Helpers Association, said employers should be more considerate to the needs of domestic workers, instead of being harsh toward them.
Read: Charity urges better accommodation for Hong Kong maids
nko kami ng ksama ko pag pina pa on na ung air con…ipasarado na ung pinto kc masali kami sa lamig…kailangan cla lang kami wla tiis2x sana mag winter na
my employer said i can on aircondition every nigth and day time if i feel hot….
subra nman ang init kaya mabuti nlng ako kasama ko nga anak amo ko nka air con kmi at mababait cla.
Im a helper here in singapore and my employer give me such big room w/ aircon and im allowed to use it whenever i want..so lucky to have such an employer like her..hope others too..
Shonga2x na amo…ang damot ng matandang gurang nato…lucky na pala talaga ako sa amo ko…walang paki kahit yung air con ko parang nasa new Zealand ako.heheheheh joke….hirap kaya pag tag init….
Ako nga ung room ko wlng bintana, isang electrifan lang kaya hirap akong huminga sakit s katawan kpag natuyuan ng pawis kahirap ring matulog,
mas gusto ko wintet
open sana sa akin pero pinatangal ng management lahat ng air con sa stock room kc ung stock room nmin pinarenovate para sa aking room kaya electrician ang ginagamit ko pero free ako sa room ng alaga ko na my aircon
Gara gara Ac Nih majikaan jadi perbincangan…mahal si emang kita harus tau diri juga…
one’s opinion us different from the others,,but pls. use ur common sense,,no need to ask anybody about that simple matter,,if u do not want ur helper to use a/c and u think that it is improper then u have all the right to terminate her,,,as if u are the only employer in hk. shit you! lets see if u can get another helper with ur attitude and i bet nobody will work with you longer like any other here. learn to give respect to others so that u can get one too!
Im everyday also using the air condition..my mom is not problem.sometime 24 hour I not off it I have holiday but not going outside so sleep the whole day…
You are lucky that your employer allowed u to used aircon in your room
blessed parin po aq kc may sarili akong room at may aircon familya po ang turing sa akin eat all u can kung ano pagkain nila pagkain ko rin.kaya suwertehan lng tlga may mga amo na kutulong tlga ang turing kung baga ibng tao sa knila.
Why you don’t try to sleep in the maid’s room with no aircon in the hot summer to know how difficult to falling asleep ? Just to try even one night.
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