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.
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Read: Employers’ behavior causing maid shortage in Hong Kong
It is not our fault, we didn’t choose that holiday. For me if I have to choose what holiday we can have is the Good Friday for us Roman Catholic which mostly Filipino are and even some Christian sectors wants to spend our time with church activities and to solemnised that day. So employers better send a petition to the Hong Kong government to swap that holiday with the Holiday that the helpers want
Same thing you’ve enjoy the Easter holidays….
Shame on you such a bad exmple of employer you are
We are not complaining if Lent Season ,we are not also intitled to take our Holiday…that is for our Catholics Service so why this employer #SUKI complaining ?…about her housemaid , we don’t care… that’s ur problem… maybe ur not a good employer that’s why….
so,..if that the case or reason nothing to weep …. why don’t you give us the good Friday as a holiday for this day is holy ,the whole world is special holiday
You are not also christian theb y are u enjoying and celebrating the easter holiday…
What a mean employer…
Pity for your helper..
Before you hire your employee it was already stated there all the statory holiday.y not question the agency before u sign the contract..poor knowlege isnt it?.
You are more worst because you let us work Nov. 2nd and we are not complaining and its ur law… so don’t blame us (domestic helper) blame ur government
can we question also,why they have the holy week holiday?when the truth is almost all of them are buddhist?am usually a reader of a thread ,but sometimes employer are so mean they thought that they are GOD’s gift to their maid…just like my younger sister employer…bless her soul,may karma naman ..
We are Christian and we are not worshiping the tombs of our Love one…we are only worshiping God…
#before you sign the contract of your maid you should read everything esp.about our rights as maid..that during holidays,stat holidays we are allowed to go out…unless you talk in a right way to your maid to swap it into anothe day.
Sometimes we can’t blamed helpers to refused why?beacuse most employers didn’t give any consideration to their their helpers "there is a saying that goes like this what you sow is what you reap…be generous to your maids and as a filipino people I’m pretty sure we will give you back 10 times that consideration/generosity..
Thats filipino people…treat as nice as you can if you want to be treated 10x nice as you give
Oh my so sad for your helper to have you as her employer….
We foriegn Domestic workers are very considerate when it comes to family matters but sometimes there are employers who are incosiderate and even discriminate us, sometimes you cannot blame us if we don’t want to swap our dayoff especially those MEAN employers. Employers can talk to us in a nice way treat us good and we will even double our kindness to ur family.
very well said kabayan
If you need your made that day then pay her an extra as smple as that… seeking an attention for a mean employer like you in a social group?Crazy Boss…. ????????????
I think you lack good communication with your helper if your mean then what do u expect in return..
SAME QUESTION TO ALL HONG-KONG CHINESE.. YOU ALL CHINESE BELIEVE IN BUDDA THEN WHY THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS ALL THE TIME CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS AND EASTER YOU GUYS EVEN NEVER BEEN IN CHURCH FOR ONCE AND MOST OF DON’T BELIEVE IN ANY GOD YOU GUYS ONLY BELIEVE IN YOUR SELF… CAN ANYONE ANSWER THAT?
it happens only once in a yr cant u sweep the tomb of ur ancestros!do good deed to ur ancestors.may they rest in peace
Madam if ur maid will agree for swaping dayoff,why you use a magic words(PLEASE)we as a human being we are soft hearted, dont demand against the hk law, simple as that!
That is very simple, Statutory Holiday is mandated by the HK Government. Once you hire a maid, know your responsibilities as an employer, if you cannot give that to your maid, you don’t have the right to get one, instead look for a slave and not a helper.
Helpers are being paid for a certain task while slaves are not.
I want you to know that helpers are not inconsiderate if you are a good employer, if they sense that you need help, they will voluntarily present themselves to help you. for some, they work even without pay, just give them enough food and treat them with dignity. But if you are mean to your helper expect the unexpected, especially Filipinos ????
Redeemed Maximo you are right they always say dirty but they won’t know how to clean and they won’t clean during our holidays the house is dirty and messy.
STUPID EMPLOYER… THINK BEFORE YOU TYPE AND POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA…YOU CAN JUST TALK TO YOUR HELPER NO NEED TO POST THIS KINDA ISSUE ON ON PUBLIC ????????????