Messy kitchens are probably the last things that foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong want to see on Sunday evenings at the end of their weekly day off.
Several months ago, a Facebook page named “OFWs in HongKong” posted several pictures of a messy kitchen and complained that many domestic workers could not enjoy a full day of rest on Sundays. This raised the question of whether employers have the right to ask their maids to help clean up their kitchens on Sunday evenings.
According to Hong Kong’s labor law, a rest day is defined as a continuous period of not less than 24 hours during which an employee is entitled to abstain from working for his employer. However, some employers try to impose their own interpretations on this rule.
An old post on Baby-kingdom.com, a popular website for married couples in Hong Kong, initiated a discussion with the question, “What if your new domestic worker says she is entitled to have one 24-hour rest day per week?”
A lot of employers agreed that they did not have the right to ask their maids to clean up messy kitchens on Sunday evenings, but many of them admitted that they expected that their domestic workers to do so “voluntarily.”
Some said that if domestic workers didn’t do so on Sunday evening, they would have to get up earlier on Monday morning to wash the dishes. Some others said the 24-hour rest day could start from 9pm on Saturday and end on 9pm on Sunday.
Some employers also said they felt unhappy when a new domestic worker tried to “threaten” them by mentioning the labor law. Others said they could ask their maids to rest on a weekday, instead of Sunday.
Some netizens, however, spoke up for the domestic workers by stating a simple fact: No one wants to work on holidays.
Most Hongkong employers agree with the law of it is benificial for them..but if it’s benificial for the maid they don’t say agree with it..there are maids in HK that even work before they go out on thier rest days..and when they come back home they are expected to do work as well..they say Hongkong has the best labour law ? When it comes to the domestic helpers it’s not..
Most Hongkong employers agree with the law of it is benificial for them..but if it’s benificial for the maid they don’t say agree with it..there are maids in HK that even work before they go out on thier rest days..and when they come back home they are expected to do work as well..they say Hongkong has the best labour law ? When it comes to the domestic helpers it’s not..
Well in that way its an employer and employee good relationship thats why you neer ro give and take system ..good for you and youre lucky because you have that kind of employer. ..unlucky to those who have such ridiculous and inhuman one
so true sis
They should clean up their mess..
If they are employee(employers) do they work extra during their day offs? I bet they wouldn’t without an extra pay..so same with us domestic helpers we also need to rest after our day off,going home to your employer’s house and staring at those messy & oily kitchen will make us more tired ????.. They should be more considerate if they cook during day off clean up their mess.
Asia Times tell all dumbass employers to learn to clean up their mess on maids off! Period! Until no one will stand up for these types of employers they will continue to abuse their helpers. Talking about modern day slavery.
Luningning Rada Cuaresma ipaglaban mo din minsan para matutu
The hongkong government must strict to implementing this rules but sad to say nd nila kya kc un mga law maker eh employer din ky xempre nd bbigyn ng focus un mga gnitong issue.
At tyong mga domestic helper ang mgdurusa,where is the JUSTICE?
Relate much with this, some employers are blind with this rules and law which is very ridiculous????
Kc yun siguro pinirmahan mo every year kc nagtataas ng 100 ako nga 4,210 lng sahod ko kc 2016 ako pumirma yun pa ang minimum that time
Relate much…sad…
They should announce this through television so employers should watch…they are expecting voluntarily efforts from employee…then they must learn how to give some considerations too when it comes to payment…so I think overtime payment should be implement here in HK…just an idea
the fact is some employer wants us to follow their rules but then they dont follow the rules which is holiday is rest day and no need to work…????????????????
IM lucky enough