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
Hay naku kung alam lang sana nila na halos lahat ng employer may AC man sa "kunwari" kwarto kwartuhan natin ayaw nila ipagamit magtitiis ka sa electric fan magdamag
Thanks to my employer because they are very kind, and generous, they treat me very well.. Glory to God.
there are some employers they treated they’re helper as a slave…ive heard different experiences from their employer..they don’t have,enough food to eat..they work more than 12 hours ..hopefully Madame Betty Yung please help domestic helpers concerns regarding food allowance and our rights..It must also be at 8 hours of working everyday…
that wednesday dawn is very hot. i dont know why and is feel suffocated and cant breath.. we used only airconditioned at night time if my Alaga fall asleep then we turned it off.. kasi lagi syang nag sneeze at di makatulog at ako.. di ako.pedi sa masyadong malamig.. peri dalawa electric fan namin room..
I have my own room though its small i hve my own privacy and,toilet and aircon,it us up to me if i switch it on or off.I am blessed of having my employer,my employer is Atty.Catrina Lam,and Syewart Tsui.
Most of the employers are like that.why not try instead.sleep with a small fan with the degree of 30+…I myself as a favor to open mine.they didn’t allowed. What I did?cry…all this years every summer I slept around 1-3 am…maybe too tired already…try to put yourself in any situation that you want you to do to your "kunyang". So you know.we are also human. We feel what you feel.we never ask you to treet as…..AS a member of the family.but please treet as…as a human…may God give you what you deserve. You may not believe…but have.
True. Employers, we are thesame human so act as one
Oh god…thanks to my boss.every day asked me if i am comfortable at night.even without ac but still he gave me 2 fan ����
some employer crazy.
they want the helper doing best for them.
but they don’t care about their helper.
i’m so blessed n lucky, because my boss treat me very well.
during day time my employers house is just like the OVEN were just using the fun..my lola if possible she doesnt wan to turn on the aircon..Im can survive with the hot weather..I am very pity sa aking mga alaga
� � �
Do like it..
Making we know
W**G and other eployers
Following him
Is NOT GOOD person��
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Ako nga din wala aircon ang hirap matulog para kang mamatay sa init lalo pag walang hangin..sa gabi
Yes…thats true . .mostly employers in hongkong is not good…why they hire maids if they cant afford to support the needs of maids…especially the food…besides,the law written in the contract…mostly maids always follow the ur rules…but why u did not follow?.is just because ur our employer ..no its better u take care the maids…because we serve and respect u whole life…because we need our job…so hope hongkong govt…should be more focus for this problem…
First of all helpers are not animals we are human bieng too….And we did not come here to become a slave but to work..We need to be treated well like a human bieng.We need to be respected too..As we redpect and love our employers..
If you were living in the opposite i mean you live like us (helpers) can you endure such kind of treatment?..
Kawawa naman. Praning din amo na yan. Sa init ngayon at di ka nag-aircon di ka makakatulog.
My name is Jocelyn R. Iida im finished contract last year and I changed new employer but o got my new visa already last year but im so unlucky to my new employer her name is Mak Lui Sui here add is Flt G. 20 / F. Blk. 8 Castello 69 Siu Lek Yuen Road Shatin , N.T. Hongkong. My emplyers did not allowed me to used the washing machine i stay for 3 days and i try to put my dirty clothes on the washing machine i want yo turn on my lady employer thouht me that all thiers maids stay here in these house they not alliwed to use washong machine any dirty clothes or bedsheet or blanket. So i try to explain to my employer that in our co tract the electricity is allowed to use it but they said no. Then after we talk they said if the condition is o dont like to follow i can break the contract for her because with 2 years i cannot use the washing machine and also het sister is always eating dinner on my employers house then she going back home to another building. So i call to my agency but they cannot help to my problem so o decided to break my contact within just stay 4 days only but im new finished contract. So right now im here in Manila its already 1 year and o cannot go back to Hongkong because of my bad employers. Even the foods they give me its not enough for me. Can you find me in help me im already 52 years old im single and healthy. Thank you
Penny wise Pound foolish.
I have my own aircon in my room.and they gave me also a fan.they asked me to use my aircon but i prefer to use the fan.its bcoz i also care about the electric bill of my employers.they provided me 2 choices so why do i not care also about them.aircon consume too much electricity than fan so i choose to use my fan.not all employers are bad but this wong is really annoying.hahaha
Bezzz koy itz me faithfully pabasa mo sa amo yan� Kami kahit wala tao bahay ON ang aircon kahit nasa kanya kanya kaming bakasyon naka on padin ang aircon at ayaw ng amo ko ang amoy na kulob �
i wanna meet this employer… and ask one thing.. "are you living a good life by making others feel unhappy?