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
My boss is very kind and generous ,,,allow me to use AC even w/o asking permission frm them!And even day time i have a nap,,,What a bless life ,,,Tnx God for my channel of blessing my Emplyer
Yes my employer too, she’s open to let me switch on my aircon in my room, and during the day if I feel hot she let me switch on the aircon in the living room. I’m so lucky that I have an employer who is very considerate about my needs.
Dis employer is so mean….you put your self in the situatio of the helper….after very tiring day are you sleep while the weader is hot? Your so disgusting….
My employer allow me to use the aircon ang even the kitchen have aircon ….
This employer is out of brain….selfish,after a long day work…helper must have a gudnite sleep…Shame on you ms wong
Wala kau sa kakilala ko no aircon and no fan either! So magdamag hirap xa makatulog syempre! Napansin ng lola nya n mukhang di nakatulog so binilhan nmna ng pamaypay� Bagong lipat kz kaya sabi ko tiis muna kaht ilang buwan as long na di xa cinasaktan!
Very simple problem!! And it has a simple solution!!dont hired maid!! Simple right?!
Use your brain!
that’s right we are human being like you ifnu fell hot then we are too so cruel
Well I’m so lucky to have a good and kind employer. They treat me like their own family. I am so thankful to our Lord God to give me a kind heart employer
This creature should not be allowed to employ a maid then.
d2 nga electric pan, buti PANG aso nila ka aircon
This employer is crazy, how can the maid sleep well if its too hot in her room.Im thankful ,,my employers are the best.!
Buti nga cla may window room nila ako Wala stock room n maliit hnd mo alm Kung paanu ka bbaluktot sa init
Dahil may baby na 3mos old ung ac sa living room maghapon nakaopen.kaya kapag gabi gusto e.fan lng gamitin ko sa kuarto ko sabi ng amo ko its so hot must on ac�
Well as the saying goes" treat me well and i’ll definitely treat u better"
oh my!!!!
i am still lucky coz my boss let me use the aircon.they even change it to new one as the old one is not working well.
why employers should put an air con in maids bedroom if he or she doesn’t like maids to use it?what thier purposes of having an air con to maids room?
U know if u can afford to have someone to work in your house so you can afford her needs too.. You let her in your house treat her as your own family and u will see the work will be everything good.. Everybody happy if we are good to everyone. Crazy
Does he need to asked other employer for that? Why didn’t he try to sleep in the maid’s quarter open all the windows during summer , feel and see if he could sleep. If the maid catch up a sickness like ""dengue fever", or skin problems due to hot weather , the more problem he will have. No one will work for him becayse his maid is sick. He needs to send the maid to the doctor at his own expense. How if it is dengue? It needs confinement at the hospital. Can’t you just employer give a little considerations for your maid?. Treat them the way you want them to treat you. They are human like you who needs family near them and employers are their second family afar from home.
Why they put an aircon in maids room if she’s not allowed to use it��