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.
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.????
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….
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.
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.
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.
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.
correct exactly…but some still insist hard headed fellow
"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.
yes true
Arn pati ba naman difference ng Maid at Domestic Helper dinedebate ahihihihi degree holder pa ????????????????
Here we go again…yung lumang phrase na DEGREE HOLDER AKO, degree holder ka nga so BAKIT KA NANDITO AT NAGPAPAKA "CHIMAY", c’mon lets face it, tanggalin ang label JUST SERVE YOUR PURPOSE< MAGTRABAHO TAYO< MAG IPON
Heaven forbid domestic helpers should actually have any fun.
As far as I understand..most employers selecting the cheapest insurance of 1000 dollars per contract? ..where was your real heartfelt concerns ????????????
And to our co workers..take extra care into every dangerous activities outside .I understand that we wanted to proved more than we deserves but nevertheless, health is wealth ..
Cherry de Mesa saan po pwede?gusto ko yan
Shane Laitan Noto And yeah, who is condemning who?
Shane Laitan Noto That’s of course your own opinion and I respect that. But don’t say there’s no such thing as safety, for there’s that saying "prevention is better than cure".
There’s no such thing as safety like being safe for doing safer things like u are pointing. Advicing people to be more careful is more than enough to show that you care. But you cant condemn someone of doing things which is dangerous to ur understanding just because u think its not safe. I always believe we have the right to do whatever we think is beneficial for us or like pampering ourselves for making our interests possible. We just have to be cautious. Because whatever you do no matter how careful we are accidents do happen anytime. Kahit nakaupo ka lng..
i been there last October 5 i’m enjoying swimming but i didn’t diving it depends on the other helper how to handle thier safety..because if you really got injured or accident even you are at home doing your work other helper also got accident like drop out the window while cleaning.where ever you are accident is accident..just saying.
Thank u to the one who supports domestic helpers , my employer doesn’t even want me to go to Macau because of insurance issues and they always change my public holiday in favour of their schedule but that’s ok but if you are given consecutive days off and not allowed to stay in your boss house what will you do?of course if there’s typhoon that’s another issue!
LECHE HINDI PA KASI PAYAGAN MAG LIVE OUT MGA DH WHO CAN AFFORD BWISIT!!