A message on social media questioning the holiday arrangements for domestic workers in Hong Kong has drawn a lot of criticism.
A netizen named Suki posted a message on a Facebook group called “Support Group for HK Employers with Foreign Domestic Helpers” on Monday that questioned why foreign maids whose traditions do not oblige them to go tomb-sweeping on the Ching Ming Festival can still enjoy a one-day holiday, Oriental Daily reported.
This year’s Ching Ming Festival, when Chinese people traditionally go to clean and sweep the graves of their ancestors, falls on April 5. Ching Ming is one of the 12 statutory holidays in Hong Kong that domestic workers are entitled to enjoy.
Suki complained that she would not be able to take her young children to go tomb-sweeping and there would be no one to take care of them because her maid would have the day off.
She said that as foreign workers did not have any ancestors to worship at the festival, how could it be that they still enjoy the day off and go partying with their friends?
One netizen advised Suki to ask her domestic worker to swap the holiday for a different day. Suki said her maid at first refused to make such a swap, but after negotiation, she finally agreed to rearrange her holiday.
Many netizens slammed Suki’s message and accused her of being a mean employer. Some said she should not have Christmas holidays if she is not a Christian.
One netizen lamented that once some Hongkongers hire a domestic worker, they start behaving like landlords or capitalists who like exploiting workers.
Read: Employer slammed online for criticizing maid’s bathing habits
Read: Employers’ behavior causing maid shortage in Hong Kong
Why we don’t have holiday on holy week? just asking
There should be no discrimination against language people speak, or religion. Great times (holidays) are great softeners.
Don’t hire a helper then
Yes miss Suki your complained is so mean when you can negotiate to your maid or swap that day or pay double so she can look after your kids while you go sweeping on the tomb of your dead. Posting a mean complaint like this it shows your character or attitude towards your helper I’m sure you are not that good to your employee the way you act….. You know even do we are only maid /helpers here in hk we obey every rules or law of hk that you should show an example instead of being mean towards us
You are complaining about that day? How about the Holy Thursday and Holy Friday? Supposed to be you are not Christian to celebrate those days and yet you Chinese people have those 2 days off privilege but not the domestic helpers that are mostly Christians? You are complaining and yet you don’t know that most of the employers are too much demanding from us and yet we don’t complain about it as long as we can stand it? It’s like you are treating the helpers as your slaves? That’s why you call them helpers because they will help you with your work but not doing all the works! ……. what a fuss!
Instead of being mean and posted on social media about your helper/maid you better ask her first if she could swap it to the other day.Your criticism and ego is higher than your height lmao???? you’re greedy!
For us christians we are not supposed to work during good fridays because that is supposed to be a time to pray for us but its not our holiday even it is hk residents and offices holiday we are not entitled to it.. but we dont complain.. we follow rules of hk. Lucky for those who have employers that let them go to church on that day like me..
Why is the employer questioning about this holiday??? Doesn’t she knew about the law of hongkong??? If she’s a law abiding citizen of she should follow and practice it! Otherwise don’t live in hongkong! Hongkong Government is just fair as they knew what human is! Thank you Hongkong Government!!!
So should be the Holy week is for the helpers also because most of domestic helpers are Christian….
korek
And also the Holyweek…Their are so many Holidays that the Domestic worker are not entitled also..How can you complain for just a ching ming holiday..This employer have a bad attitude i think..
What a mean spirited woman. I hope she doesn’t expect her boss to give her Easter, Christmas and 1January of as they are obviously not her religious o cultural holidays!
If you are good to your helper she will be good to you as well but the way you behave yourself no helper would willing to work during the days off because that is only the time can be out from your disaster
True
you can ask your maid to swap the day..she can understand u.rather than criticize..how about nov.1 from us who also wants to pray for our love ones who’s soul rest,did employer give us this day?no,so it’s desame..
Some employers do treat their domestic helper like slaves. Very sad! ????
Then you shd.tell your maid not to go out la。its a statutory holiday as stated by LD.
That is stupid boss poor helper work with u.????????????
So selfish employer!!! We are helpers not slaves!!! We have our own beliefs so NEVER EVER TRIED TO REACT FOR A SELFISH ISSUE!!! It’s not our problem by the way!!! LAW IS LAW!!!!
Ok no off for this ching ming festivals but we want off on GOOD FRIDAY.THat phils. Traditional worship.
Madam are u crazy
Shamed on you, your a kind of boss w/ a bit of arrogant attitude better offer extra money to your maid crazy…
its not a big deal….my employer(mah~mah)…we go to grandpa’s tomb in advance or after ching ming …because she dont want to get my holidays to be with friends and to enjoy my day offs with friends….grandma said…the ching ming is the whole mobth celebration…so the employer can go to visit the tomb any day of the month….visiting the tomb is not only on ching ming day…not only 1 day but 1 mobth celebration.
Maybe she wanted the domestic helper to do the grave sweeping and cleaning for her. She can not because it is against the law. Now she is using her children as her lame excuse.
True..
Hongkong should change that ching ming holiday for domestic helpers into the holy week where not all domestic helper feel that holiday because its not statutory holiday.Since we observe our dead ancestor on november in philippines and its for the respect for the chinese people.