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.
Absolutely right
well some of us never accept that we are maids dh kunyang katulong etc…pinagyayabang na tapos sila…then why are u here? some of us also saying..she is more educated than the employer! before u come here u should expect, accept the culture! dont be so boostful umuwi k ng pinas at i apply mo yang sinasabi mong tinapos mo…maids and dh? whats the diff??????
Nadamay na naman tau sa accidents na nangyari sa saikung nung sabado Di naman kasi katolong yun Chinese yun eh bakit ba pinag uusapan ang mga nagwowork hahaha ayus din tong mga sikwa nato
but i know a colegue that even in T8 her employer ask her to buy newspaper. or ask her to take her holiday outside their house.
Ding Ding korek ka dyan.Ang buhay ay isa lang.Maging responsable sa sarili natin dahil pagtayo na nawala sino kawawa kundibpamilya natin sa pinas na umaasa lalo na kung my mga anak tayo na naghihintay satin at umaasa.
Dh,maid,helper,house manager,nanny whatever…just the same!whether you’re a teacher,nurse,accountant etc in the philippines,when you work as dh abroad it doesn’t put you in higher position than those who have no degree.
Enjoy ang araw ng day off.. Basta alam niong alagaan ang sarili.keep safe may pamilya tayong nag aantay sa ating mga bansa..umalis tayong walang kapansanan sa katawan kaya dapat.babalik tayo maayos pa rin.God bless us.
What’s offensive with using the word maid?Maid & DH are one & the same.In the Phils.,we use maid or kasambahay. In HK or elsewhere,it’s DH.And true, regardless if you’re a degree holder or not,you’re scope if function is one & the same,that is of a maid or a DH.And what if you’re a degree holder,does that entitle you to be treated above those who do not have a degree?No one is putting down anyone here,except yourself.And you are also putting down the ones that don’t have a degree but is working the same as you.
Ding Ding,I guess you have at least reasonable boss…Unlike for many of us,Employers only care about how we work for their money…Do you think employers care or concern about us???Even when we are sick we are still oblige to do our work instead of letting us rest… They’re just worried for their responsibilities if something happen to us during our days off…And they’re most happy when Typhoon happen to be on our days off so that we will stay at home & be there to serve them…They only know on how to criticise what their helpers been doing outside on days off… We are not that stupid to not know what is right & wrong for us…Though we are just helpers but we are far more smarter than them!!!…
Totally agree????????????
lol I can’t see racist over here ., DH and maids dont have differ.., even you are degree holder or whatsoever wth professional certificates and your work is in the house still you are a domestic holder or Maid., its the same job description tho.,
I agree! “live life to the fullest “ if its your time your time ., all they were saying on this article is that employers should get insurance for there maids ., because some employers dont get the right insurance for them … ! on the other hand dh/maids must have limitations as well …
Term Maid and Domestic Helper whats the difference? Even if you are professional before coming here to work, we do the same work everyday.unless you are domestic helper but you work in an office? Thats a big difference indeed.
Safe ka sa bagyo,pero wala kanang kawala sa utos nang mga amo????????????????
Were are responsible for our own actions.if you go for high risk activities think twice.learn to.value your ownself n well being.no one is hindering us to do what we want on our day off think of your employer who also give concern for our welfare,as well as your family back home.dont take risk if you know its too dangerous.Go for a good adventure.
Exactly there are many things to do more safer,cooking lesson,volunteer job for community and etc
Your right….
The best things to do our day off with God and friends in the church more saved and peaceful life.????????
Maid and domestic helper only differs in spelling but have the same meaning. I don’t find it offenssive even if my employer calls me ‘my maid’. She is not insulting me anyway.
We are welling to stay at home in times of typhoon however the employer keep ask to do work with out conpensation … we cannot rest if we stay at home .better to go out and stay mcdonalds we can relax our selves and we are able to talk to our family .