Employers in Hong Kong like to pride themselves on treating maids with dignity and compassion compared to the Middle East. But in a gossip column published on am730 earlier this month, a writer known simply as CK eavesdropped on a conversation about domestic workers at a birthday party.
He reported that one local employer bragged about how “nice” she had been to her new Filipino maid. She also pointed out that her domestic worker was her “seventh or eighth” in the past few years.
“I am her savior,” she said, referring to the maid’s last job in the Middle East, where she worked for a family of 10 and started work at 4am every day.
During the two years the maid worked in the Middle East, she was not allowed to take any holidays. “I have saved her from hell, so she can enjoy a good life in Hong Kong,” the employer told friends.
Yet these are just the basic human rights that all people deserve, CK said in his article. Domestic workers should not be treated as bonded servants, forced to work long hours without days off and holidays, he pointed out.
“Chinese employers should express their gratitude and be loyal to their domestic workers,” CK wrote. “They should treat their employees well and become better people.”
You nailed it ????????????
Eh, who knows? Maybe *this* employer actually is genuinely good or generous. The article doesn’t say anything about how this particular employer actually does treat the helper. Some employers give bonuses, have set work hours and free hours, pay for their helper to return home for holidays, etc.
And perhaps the "fly on the wall" didn’t understand the employer’s point. Perhaps they were trying to point to the plight of other workers and in their own way advocate for better treatment of domestic helpers by way of contrast.
Now, if the speaker was known to simply treat the helper strictly in accordance with the law and wasn’t generous, but considered the mere act of employing a helper as "nice" then fair enough–but the article doesn’t say anything like that. We have only the writer’s word that there was bragging and only an assumption that the employer considers mere compliance with the law "nice".
If you want to report on the issue, do everyone a service and find out more. Get the facts. Find out how the helper is actually treated. Interview the employee about their employment practices. Follow up. Be a journalist.
I agree that the condition of domestic helpers in Hong Kong is poor. I think articles about poor attitudes of employers deserve to be written, but it deserves much better quality and much more thorough treatment. Reporting hearsay as a "fly on the wall" isn’t good enough.
She dont have to brag about her maid,its shown only that shes not a good employer actually they don’t care about the welfare of their helper,specialy food and working time,well not all but most of them,example my employer she doesn’t care at all ,because all she thinks is she’s giving the salary,,,the one I don’t like at all,it’s almost every month I have to ask my salary,coz she’s not giving it on right time,and I hate it,coz that money I work for it already,and I have been so stress to ask always,coz we filipinos its not our culture,,but what can I do,i need to work for my family,i just put always in my mind that im not forever here in hongkong,
Exactly!
I need to go back at my employer"s house at 8pm ,hot pot sila,syempre have to wait for them to tidy up the kitchen ang nakakainis lang kwentuhan cla while eating,,,,,
it’s a must because we’re all the same we’re all human beings..
But still many chinese employers are bad to their helpers. Mainland chinese employers are not good too…. domestic workers are not slaves. They are human with feelings and with out them, employers can not enjoy freedom like going out at night for party etc etc.
Exactly!!!
Well said…
Amo ko mabait…kaya mbait din ko sa knila…pero may sumpong din sila…walang perfect ????
My boss is not a good employer sinced i started my contract wt her she is been rude i challenged her to terminate the contract because she is the person who has no manner she treat her maid as slave iam the 3rd maid working wt her the 1st 2 terminated their contract both my employer dont mind their maid ifshe has food they travel and no wordsleft for the maid .I am happy to those employer concerned to the needs of their helper.
Sad to say that some employers treat their helpers like rubbish n veryy stupid
We are humans too not animals????
Helper should be treated well…
I agree! if employers treat their helper well I’m sure the helper will do their best to please their employer.
Exactly!
Yaan nyo na po wag nyo na i BASH malay nati SHE’s really a GOOD SAMARITAN at gusto lang syang tularan sa ibang employer na makakaalam.
See Filipinos not only a kunyang, we are more talented than others who discriminate as a low profile individuals…
I’m lucky to e my employer now,she treated me well,thanks to God.
Just like me..im so luckyand thank full with my employer..super nice..they dont treat me bad since the 1st day…at my off day tey give me 24 hrs off no need to do anything they dont even compel..every time we eat outside..everthing that they eat i also can eat,it seems like im really part of their family..plus bonuses…i hope every employer must be the same with my employer…im so happy to have one like then.
there is nothing to be brag about lol, that’s only the basic we all must have it as domestic workers,the employer can brag about how good they are if they give more salary and not too much works, and give a really good food, and provide really good place to sleep,,and give some time to rest .Can they do that ?yes they should.the good words should come out from they helper if the employer was good.not themself lol.