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.
Yes shortage of domestic workers to local employers but not to expats ????
I think thats a trait with many HK employers. For a while Spore employers had the same problem but the govt was quick to act on it and prosecute. I dont see HK govt being as proactive. The pressures of a urban and stressful society creates such "emotionally" defective employers. Over this part of the world, we generally treat maids well but there are bigger problems with Indo maids who have a reputation for theft and abandoning the house, as the border is close by
Are any of their employers even reading this article? Bring it to their main stream media so all will be aware.
Me too they tell me to handwash my clothes …..
So True…many employers are Monster but not all….a few…
I’m Thankful becoz I’ve got Very Good Employer…
Labor lang katapat ng amo nian…kung ayaw tulungan ng Agency…
Ako nga my kwarto nga bukas nman sila ng bukas.Panu ka makapagpahinga talagang sinasadya ba nila taz dto pa matutulog yong matanda kasama pa apo nya sa isa nyang anak dalhin pa talaga dito makikitulog.Kng mabuti silang amo alam nilang sarado na pinto ng kungyan nila kng may kailangan man sa kwarto paglabas man lng sana isara nila kaso hindi .Magkalat pa talaga sila as much as they can
Yers its true.. One friend of mine need to finish thr laundry, ironing and cleaning the house every sunday before living the house… And what funny is her employer take picture on what is insde the refrigerator. One instance she catch her employer in searching her room for something and when she ask her what is it,"the employer said she was looking for one fish inside the room", so because of that incident she by her food by her own not touching the food in the house. And sadly in between 10 to 11 in the evening her employer ask her to travel to fortress hill just to fetch her. Omg.. I wish the hk government will make a seminar for those who want to hire domestic helper. Thank you
Thats the problem, some of the employer are so stingy and even you are sick they just dont care.. So some of the helper are regreted for coming here…
Edna Gherthe Osano Macasa butas naman bulsa natin sa pagbili natin
It’s sad to see fellow kabayan crying while telling stories of maltreatment of employer.
Common sense , if your hse is small and if you do not like an outsider in your midst then do not hire a helper however the nationality is. Period ! Helpers stand up against these paycho employers call the police if they treat you like rubbish.
Think twice before you do such things to my fellow maids ..I know for sure you have GOD if you really have GOD..praise the father ..because if you have so u will never do that ..how if someone did that to you are you HAPPY? GOD bless …please treat us as a human not an animal…Hope every employer’s are like my employer I love them so much ..they are very good. …good day and let’s all pray for our fellow maids who are not treat well with their employer …GOD bless us all..
One important thing employers fail to realize is that, without their helper, they too cannot work and make additional income. And so as such, they have to be grateful to them and treat them fairly. Sadly, some employers treat their pets far better than the way they treat their helpers.
Its really true.Its also my experience my employer did not allow me to use the washing machine. She controlled everything. Ask me also to wash my undies once a week and then if she talk like she’s very clean gosh.. She didn’t give me hoise key eother,if they out for dinner ask me to go out too and wait them until late at night.
yes, thats true kahit day off pag uwe sa bahay tambak ang work , ang pinakamasaklap ang pagkain,, kulang ………….
Its really true, one of my relatives was force to go back home, because the son always hit my relative, everytime she attempted to feed the boy
True they thought theyre perfect they ask to clean everywhere but they dont know how to do it even there personal things throw all over and they expect to much from the helpers
I sympathize with my fellow worker’s but I also want to remind others that if you are in a good working condition to keep in your prayers those who surfers not only in hk but in other countries too..I am blessed because my employers now are one of the few who knows the value of their helper her worth they know work is just work they value the friendship not a helper but being one of the family and I am truly bless.
dapat sa labor xa ngpunta not agency kasi papanigan nila kapwa intsik