Messy kitchens are probably the last things that foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong want to see on Sunday evenings at the end of their weekly day off.
Several months ago, a Facebook page named “OFWs in HongKong” posted several pictures of a messy kitchen and complained that many domestic workers could not enjoy a full day of rest on Sundays. This raised the question of whether employers have the right to ask their maids to help clean up their kitchens on Sunday evenings.
According to Hong Kong’s labor law, a rest day is defined as a continuous period of not less than 24 hours during which an employee is entitled to abstain from working for his employer. However, some employers try to impose their own interpretations on this rule.
An old post on Baby-kingdom.com, a popular website for married couples in Hong Kong, initiated a discussion with the question, “What if your new domestic worker says she is entitled to have one 24-hour rest day per week?”
A lot of employers agreed that they did not have the right to ask their maids to clean up messy kitchens on Sunday evenings, but many of them admitted that they expected that their domestic workers to do so “voluntarily.”
Some said that if domestic workers didn’t do so on Sunday evening, they would have to get up earlier on Monday morning to wash the dishes. Some others said the 24-hour rest day could start from 9pm on Saturday and end on 9pm on Sunday.
Some employers also said they felt unhappy when a new domestic worker tried to “threaten” them by mentioning the labor law. Others said they could ask their maids to rest on a weekday, instead of Sunday.
Some netizens, however, spoke up for the domestic workers by stating a simple fact: No one wants to work on holidays.
Hong Kong is a world class city and lawful state so should not damage the image of hk if the employers are unable to give 24 hrs.rest day to their maids should pay over time for extra working hours.
Its in the hk law itd 24 hours,but other employer not obeying that,nor complained to them about that matter .other employer just give them 10:00 am to 8 :00pm and do all the chores before there off and when they come back.not only that matters on working days they wake up around 5:30 am and finished they at 11:00pm others til midnight.
I am so lucky that i have employer that veryvery
Kind.they emply the words HELPER .thank you
For this articles.and i hope all the helper have courage to voice out there rights .
One.thing more about statury holiday that include the helper other employer never give that day wirhout a pay or change of the day for
It.i would to thank all the employer that generous to pay the helper if they really need them .most of my friend employer even mine give 500 hk dollar for that not totally with out day off but just need morning and night for the dog…hope be fair to every one specially to your helper you intrust to them your house your kids.treath them good and i assure they gonna work happy to your family doing works without asking them.specially on there day off.
The problem is employers who cannot really afford to provide the needs of a helper fake their documents or even the employer’s name who are "supposed to be" the employees boss. They think it’s enough that if they can pay the minimum salary no more problems. Accept it or not HK government cannot control this falsification even if it Is estated on the law.
They should never use kitchen utensilss or cook their food if they too lazy cleaning their mess, they should have to know that its our free day.
We try to treat our helper as we would want to be treated. Saturday AND Sunday off, surely that should be normal? A pay rise whenever we get a pay rise. Pay for her flight home every time we go away. Etc. Time for Hong Kongers to treat helpers better!
Your employer is both lazy and manipulative. Exercise and independence prolongs our lives. Unless your employer is an invalid, then they should not ask you to treat them like one. Regardless, even if you are hired to look after someone that’s seriously disabled, workers rights apply and you would follow the same employee guidelines as other occupations.
This problems not only in hongkong. ..it’s also happening in Singapore. …..
Not only the dirty and messy kitchen but all over the house even the toilet. …..
That’s what maid end there off day during Sunday………..
OMG.THANKS GOD I’m bless because I have employer that I’ve never experience that situation thank you mam and sir..you know who you are… Godbless you always…
The most ideal and logic don’t do or touch it, but the consequence is, you have to wake up early to do the washing and tidy up the mess and there’s is no reason for you anymore. For me it’s not a big deal when i come home there are some work to do. It is your decision remember no one will do it but still it’s you. Give and take only. This is unsolicited advice.
that would be nice precisely in return would be in another way and you cannot feel it somehow. mentain it dont get jealous with others.
Sarfraz Nawaz
hk immigration law you can hire a domestic.helper if the proof.of your income stating 15,000.00/ month additional helper if your proof is 30,000.00.
I think We cannot avoid our Employers yo make mess during sunday. Because it is also their rest day. To be Fair The Hk Law shoud make a Law requiring to pay their helper for working overtime.
Bebyzej Dhenjhez Torres ate bka NASA old contract kpa, mag4410 kpag new visa kna
A big true
big no,really must no no no work on holiday ,how can I say rest if you’re still working on holiday,right ?
dapat 8 hours work natin sa hk tulad s Canada
Me also before I go out in the morning I preare the lunch of the kids bring to school and. Still. Working and when I comeback same.ifi did not help them they will knock in my room and many blah blah..
As simple as "machines malfunctioned when over used & without proper care & so does human!"
Helpers are hired to lend u a help not to be ur slave.. even employers have their own rest day &/or family day to unwind & spare their self from their hectic schedules & free their preoccupied mind so they should realize how important it is to let their helpers have their own rest day too & coming back with a peaceful mind..
best product comes from well maintained machines & farms & so don’t expect a rotten fruit or food to be yummy …
Therefore, don’t expect satisfaction & a job well done from an exhausted, distressed or sick employee..
as doctors prescribed: "proper treatment is highly recommended!" ????
It is because mostly employers are abusers.
IM lucky enough
the fact is some employer wants us to follow their rules but then they dont follow the rules which is holiday is rest day and no need to work…????????????????
They should announce this through television so employers should watch…they are expecting voluntarily efforts from employee…then they must learn how to give some considerations too when it comes to payment…so I think overtime payment should be implement here in HK…just an idea
Relate much…sad…
Kc yun siguro pinirmahan mo every year kc nagtataas ng 100 ako nga 4,210 lng sahod ko kc 2016 ako pumirma yun pa ang minimum that time
Relate much with this, some employers are blind with this rules and law which is very ridiculous????
The hongkong government must strict to implementing this rules but sad to say nd nila kya kc un mga law maker eh employer din ky xempre nd bbigyn ng focus un mga gnitong issue.
At tyong mga domestic helper ang mgdurusa,where is the JUSTICE?
Luningning Rada Cuaresma ipaglaban mo din minsan para matutu
Asia Times tell all dumbass employers to learn to clean up their mess on maids off! Period! Until no one will stand up for these types of employers they will continue to abuse their helpers. Talking about modern day slavery.
If they are employee(employers) do they work extra during their day offs? I bet they wouldn’t without an extra pay..so same with us domestic helpers we also need to rest after our day off,going home to your employer’s house and staring at those messy & oily kitchen will make us more tired ????.. They should be more considerate if they cook during day off clean up their mess.
They should clean up their mess..
so true sis
Well in that way its an employer and employee good relationship thats why you neer ro give and take system ..good for you and youre lucky because you have that kind of employer. ..unlucky to those who have such ridiculous and inhuman one
Most Hongkong employers agree with the law of it is benificial for them..but if it’s benificial for the maid they don’t say agree with it..there are maids in HK that even work before they go out on thier rest days..and when they come back home they are expected to do work as well..they say Hongkong has the best labour law ? When it comes to the domestic helpers it’s not..
Most Hongkong employers agree with the law of it is benificial for them..but if it’s benificial for the maid they don’t say agree with it..there are maids in HK that even work before they go out on thier rest days..and when they come back home they are expected to do work as well..they say Hongkong has the best labour law ? When it comes to the domestic helpers it’s not..