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.
Read: Heatstrokes reported amid hot weather, poor air quality
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.
Read: Catholic newspaper slams government for ignoring maids’ rights
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
Magsama sila ng amo kong babae agang aga akoy ginera sbi hu told you to on the aircon ndi na.lang ako nagsalita siguradong aawayin si kulas dahil sya ang nagsabi gamitin mo ang aircon sobrang init.magnanay nga sila ni popo dinala ako sa.shanghai 28days tiis walang aircon walang electrifan paypay na lamang saka bukas ang bintana.
No need to ask the opinions of other employer, common sense , why dont u put yourself in your maid situation ? Then ask yourself millions time , if are fair to trear your maid
Yes…I my room is big and my boss installed a new aircon for me because the old aircon is not cold enough….they treat me like a family
Why mr.need to know how many employers have allowed their helper to use air- condition?
Hes typically a chinese without a heart,,your lucky mr.wong that your not in the situation of your helper.
She should learn to sleep in helper room without aircon and how she feel the next morning,
Does she can sleep does she feel fresh when awake …
How could she treat her helper like a slave ….?if did she can’t provide better place for her helper then live without helper
Selfish!!!!Some of the Employers in HONGKONG..they treat there maids as a Slave!!!dapat bigyan Ng pansin Ito nG PHILCONSUL…
Then let the employer sleep on the maids room without turning on the aircon.Lets see if you can handle it,if you employers feel hot we as well feel the same.Whats the use of putting aircon in your maids room if you won’t let them to use it.Maybe you need to search and study what is" SUNLESS HEATSTROKE"
Papalit sayo ?Bakit?
My employer allow me to use an air condition on my room.
madam/ sir Wong you’re very stupid employer, we as a helper are human being like you, how about if you sleep without air condition? can you sleep? try to your self, sleep without air condition if what you feel
Inhuman
So blessed to my boss lahat gagamitin ko ayos lang
almost 4years……walang aircon……
pero.kung makaisip magnanakaw ka.sa kanila wagas……samantalang every holiday kp inoobliga nla akong maglinis.bago umalis at pagdating ko.ng bahay…..walang bayad……ganyan employer ko…..di ko alam.bkt kaya.nlang tiisin ang cheche nla.6 to 11 work ko mi.san.naabot pa yan.ng 11:30 o 12mn
ngyn bakasyon 7 to 11 nonstop samantalang sila paglabas.ng kwarto bungad sau mainit….e magdamag sila.nakaaircon….haybuhay ofw
I have my own aircon anytime, whether it day or night. penniless employer, uneducated,
It just only a few hours na magaircon maid mo ipagdamot mo pa what if maheat stroke hayahay wla kang puso na amo dapat sayo wag ka kukuha maid mo.
Ako may aircon sa room, i never ask for it mabait lng talaga si boss, if ayaw ipa gamit tiis tiis nalang hanap ibang amo iwan mo ang impaktang yan
You dont deserve to have a helper in house…you dont deserve to be helped…by the way God bless you..hope your helper will finish her contract and stay longer..more helpers to come…tsk…tsk…tsk…
Before we moved in to their new flat, 20yrs+ ago, My employer had asked me if i want an aircon be installed in my room, and i said i prefer an electric fan…so till now i uses the fan though she’s been asking from time to time if i change my mind to have the aircon…still no for me.
Ang animal kapal anong tingin nya sa maid nya hindi tao? Kapal nya! Ang init kaya nang panahon
This employer is stupid why you don’t try to your self,you sleep whiout air con and tell what did you feel after that…