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
regular holiday
they how how to say dirty but they doesn’t know what is dirty all about… i salute those employers who respect their maids even they are the boss… i just remember my very good employer before they are so rich but they are so kind and treated me as their own family that’s why i love them evem more and happy to things even they don’t ask me to do
correct
why good friday is hongkong holiday but we dh whome majority is christian cant have that holiday so before you react madam think first.
moron employer. mean and moron!!!
Domestic helpers do domestic dutie only,sweeping the grave is not included,,if you cannot take care of your child while sweeping the grave then it’s your
Problem madam…dont tell me your helper is more smarter than you,because she can do all the works in your house while take caring of your
Child..
Soo mean employer
Law is Law
most chinese don’t celebrate lenten season yet you have 4day holidays …..
i am just wondering why such an employer exists…
I am a helper and i have all "red~calendars" a day off.
it is scary to have an employer with such attitude and reasoning..Very discriminatory !
just bring your kids and watch them if your maid take a day off.very simple..
You have to read&understand what written in the contract madam employer that all foreign workers have the rights to take the statutory we also need to worship and of course to take a rest if u cant take it then don’t hire a worker make your own robots to do the chores!
wow. i know your not a good employer at all. some hk employers, some acted like they owned their helpers. Like they wanted the helper to.work like a robot. Your helper is unlucky to have you as her employer for sure.
If we will base the holidays for our belief then we should also have holidays during Easter, especially us Filipinos who greatly observed those days.
yup so true ,,,katulad ko hind ako mkarest totally ng Sunday kc need kong bumalik ng before 8 p.m eh Ang layo ng place nmin.tpos algaan ko ulit ung bta pagdating ko …sad life
You should complain to hongkong government not in social media.its not only you an employer and beside before you hire FDW you the regulation and date about holiday and you also enjoying as we did.
So why employers not allowing us to day off during holy week…
They call that selfishness
This employer (suki) is really so mean to us (helper).. you are keep on complaining about that one day statutory.. suki this is only one day unlike you. You have a long holiday eventhough you are not a christian.. we christian is celebrating good friday… black saturday and easter sunday but we (helper) here in hongkong are not entitled to go out in that days.. but we dont complain.. why??? It is because we fully understand the law here in hongkong… we fully understands what is in the contract.. so please can u stop being so mean to us.. helper.. you are the boss at all. But please be agood boss at all. Without us you cannot go to work to earn more money
I just want to know that…it’s not the work of maid to do cleaning the graveyard of those employer ancestors…but we just respect them just because they are our employer…of course I will said that as a respect them.actually it’s family and relatives can do that to worshiping and praying to their late family…we do that also if we are in our home country.its not a point you can’t bring your maid to clean the graveyard…so you have a time in week days just bring the maid there earlier from April 1 to 4 so that on 5 you can bring you family kids together and let the maid go statutory holiday…so what’s the big deal… right? Kabayan.
Why not exchange the Easter holidays to ching Ming festival,give to the helper the Easter holidays as a statutory holiday and ching Ming festival as a working day to all helpers..