Whether domestic worker should engage in high-risk activities on their rest days became a heated topic over social media among Hong Kong employers and netizens on Monday.
A video clip was posted showing a woman in a hijab and life jacket jumping off a ten-meter-tall cliff at Rock Pools near Sheung Luk Stream in Sai Kung East Country Park in the city’s New Territories. Half of the hundred or so swimmers are Indonesian or Filipino maids.
Two Indonesian domestic workers, named Fitria and Nita, both on their days off, told an Oriental Daily reporter that many of their friends had visited the pond and taken part in cliff diving before, even though there was a sign warning people not to go into the water. The women were not aware of accidents involving maids at other locations in the past.
In 2014, a 32-year-old Indonesian maid was swept off the rocks by a 1.5 meter wave and dragged out into deeper water while posing for photographs with friends in Shek O.
Some local employers complained online that their maids refuse to take their advice to stay at home during typhoons. The said they felt helpless in such situations and worry about their maids’ safety, as well as their own responsibilities in the event of accidents happening.
According to the Standard Employment Contract for maids in Hong Kong, employers need to provide medical treatment for their workers if they are ill or injured, regardless of the cause.
Betty Yung Ma Shan-yee, chairperson of the Hong Kong Employers of Domestic Helpers Association, advised that employers should buy a comprehensive insurance policy for their domestic workers.
Chan Kam-hua, a member of the Support Group for Hong Kong employers with Foreign Domestic Helpers said employers have no right to limit their maids’ activities on their holidays; nor can they terminate a contract if a maid is injured participating in a high-risk activity.
Some netizens insisted domestic workers should be free to do what they like on their holidays.
Arn pati ba naman difference ng Maid at Domestic Helper dinedebate ahihihihi degree holder pa ????????????????
yes true
"Domestic Helper" is a recently invented term. "Maid" is the older name, and it was originally a very respectful term, but it only describes one kind of work. The term "Domestic Helper" was invented to be a more general term that would cover not only maids, but also nannies, elderly care givers, cleaners, pet care, etc., etc.
correct exactly…but some still insist hard headed fellow
Hilarious that Hong Kongers quite often work their helpers so hard, for so long, and are then surprised that they’ll brave a ‘phoon just to get away from them. The logic of this situation is pretty obvious to me.
Yes we are free to do what we want in our rest day .to relax our mind in working to our employers house for a week .most of as are devoted to the catholic community.have many things to do for the safety of ourself.
Why most of the helper still go out even has a strong typhoon just simply because no food to eat, the employer cannot even give a slice of bread to eat.
CLIFF JUMPING is just another kind of hobby n everyone of us hv our own way of making ourself fearless.Why does everyone think of an accident in d first place.Even riding in a plane s dsame like CLIFF JUMPING.SoIf thats ur passion so go for it ur not hurting anybody so u hv to trust God that he takes care of everythin.Just go for fun wen the weather is fine and be xtra careful.. jz enjoy ur holiday with precautions.No one knows when will God get our borrowed life.Everyone doesn’t like to die in a tragic way all we hv is to do is keep ourself safe n sound.
Well, do other companies limit what people do on their holidays? No? So, stop thinking that maids are slaves an that will go a long way….
Ay basta ako masaya ako sa off ko…the day before ng off ko bili na ako ng food ko…sarap kaya matulog…nood nood sa youtube…chat sa pamilya…kuntento na ako…kasawa na sa labas,mas pagod pa pag uwi kesa sa working days.????
Shane Laitan Noto, i agree with what you mentioned.
Ju Liet …hahaha natawa ako ah.
Maid/ domestic helper/kasambahay. Kunyang. Etc..yan tlaga ang itatawag sa atin kasi po sa BAHay ang work ntin. Kht pa nurse ang natapos ntin.once na ang work mo ay sa bahay. Maid talga ang itatawag nila sa atin. Ito kc ang pinasok ntin na work.
ding ding tama po si EAM ylednew Hindi po lahat ng amo katulad sa amo mo MA’s gustuhin ko pa po nautusan ako ng amo ko total Hindi nman that ipagawa sayu kasi holiday nga pero palabasin ka kahit signal #8 tapos baguhan pa ako hala OMG talaga
Go and have fun at your own risk but before doing so…STOP! THINK & REALIZED first! It’s BETTER to be SAFE than to be SORRY because you have your family back home waiting for you alive & kicking!