Domestic workers have been an integral part of Hong Kong’s community for a long time but the city has been facing a shortage of household helpers in recent years, and a key factor is employers’ poor treatment of their maids.
A commentary published in Apple Daily on Friday blamed local employers cause such shortage.
In the newspaper column, journalist Fan Wing-shum said domestic workers from the Philippines made up half of the 352,000 foreign workers in the city.
However, despite increasing demand, employment agents said fewer Filipinos were willing to come to Hong Kong. Part of the reason was the tightening labor export policy implemented by the Philippine government – but the main reason was the way local employers treat their workers, Fan said.
One female employer, purportedly is a “freak” about cleaning, would not allow an outsider to use the washing machine and told her maid to wash her own clothes by hand or at a laundry.
She also asked if the domestic could wash her clothes on her days off – and bear the fee on her own if she washes them at a laundry.
Another case involved a family of six living in a flat that was too small and had little space for the domestic worker, so the employer arranged for her to sleep in the kitchen, which was dangerous.
On top of that, the employer was a shift worker who went to the kitchen to make late-night snacks and thus disrupted the maid’s ability to get a decent night’s sleep.
Fan said there were too many troubling cases, such as the worker hit by her employer’s children and others involving maids who were overworked.
However, most domestic workers came to Hong Kong to work for a family and they had little choice but to tolerate as much as they could.
The writer appealed to employers not to be too harsh on their domestic workers.
Exactly true
Why so cruel on people who serve you?
That so true some are bad but some are good. I’m lucky because my employer family treat me as their own family.
Yes,this news is true
Yes most of all filipinas suffered from maltreating of their employer but, tolerate it bcoz needs a job to sustained our family, they never treat the house maid as their family they so greedy!!! They like tje foods or fruits to be spoiled rather than to give.. Sad but thats the reality here in hk..
I came in 2 different country taiwan is nice when it comes to foods also in bahrain they gave you a lot if stuff that some times yoo canot eat bcos too much.. Salary is quite small but they treat you as a family.. Here most of all employers bad…
But thers a good also, just a little..
naexperience k,din yan kahit I,dry k Lang sana,s washing machine kahit 5 minutes Lang minadali k kc wala cla, nakita s cctv camera pinatanggal tlga at Sabi pa nla kkasuhan daw ako kc nakialam s gamit nla..at pagdating nla pinalinisan ang boung washing machine ng dettol..akala nla malinis cla,pagdating k nga sobrang dumi ng bhay,nila,naninilaw pa ang Toilet at mga tiles ang ddumi ..yan ba ang sobrang Linis..hindi cla mkatao..ang katulong s kanila ay mdumi s tingin nla.handwash k.lang tlga tagal matuyo kc walang dryer ang liit p ng bhay,nla..bago ako umalis inaway k tlga ..ngsumbong s agency sa employeer kumampi ..ang saklap ng buhay..kahit katulong Lang ako tao din ako..
thats really happen i have friend live in onda court she sleep in the living not get enoughsleep because the boss always turn on the light when he smoke, and no enough food and they dont provide wardrobe for her, her things are in her laguage and it was in thier living also
I think almost half of the employer in hk are mean they do not treat there house maid as a human being heartless people ????????????according to survy people in hk are just plain mean …..
And yet no action is taking place ..SMH
imagine even u put ur heart and soul.in.it..still very ungrateful.ingrata!u raised their kids..in the end kids will shout right in your face.hows tjat?
all true.as if..really yea!