Domestic workers in Hong Kong victims of forced labor

1 in 6 HK domestic workers a victim of forced labour: Experts - Channel NewsAsia

Good article and so true.

My wife worked as a domestic helper for thosePeople for 3 years. They need more enforced protection and strictly defined job requirements.

Unfortunately there are many Philippino's working for the agency's and screwing their own people. I see the contract workers here in Canada often stabbing each other in the back and screwing over whoever they can for money and status. I guess there are reasons it's hard for them to get a travel visa to other country's.

It pisses me off the way the temp workers are treated.

To the dishonest people in the past who have abused or made it so hard for an honest Philippine to travel to other country's, giving the Philippine people in general a bad name.
Hang your heads in shame knowing you have ruined it for every good person in the Philippines and hopefully karma might dictate you be a** raped by a well hung aswang......

Edited by a moderator to remove a derogatory remark

 

For your headline I rate it a Duh! as anyone and everyone in HK who knows anything about domestic workers there knows this to be a fact.

For the headline of the article I rate it as a nice of you to mention it but why are you down playing it? Having been involved with a DH and subsequently volleyball, I have had conversations with a few dozen Filipina works and would believe the actual number of those dealing with this BS is closer to 5 out of 6. Many workers are first time out of the province much less country and a re scared to begin with, add to that if they complain they risk being deported and barred from returning to HK. Even in the rare instance the employer is found guilty of abuse, the worker is sent home.

It is a very big mess for sure.

 

As far as there are filipinas involved suffering in HK by working there as an OFW the PH government could just simply put a ban on that their citizens are no longer allowed to work there any more and also forbid agencies to recruit people for that destination.
But that would be as biting in your own hands that get the commission disappearing in so many pockets or..??!!

 

I'm calling bullshit on this article.

Of employed people in the Philippines, I would say more like 9 out of 10 have to be forced to get any actual work done. I'm being loose with my definition of being forced here though. Walking into a business and demanding service. Any scenario where they have to put down the cell phone, etc.

 

This may make sense on a political level, but in this case we are mostly talking about 20ish year old province girls. I don't think they should bare the "you get what you sow" from the actions of the ruling elite.

 

Hong Kong is not in the Philippines. A day in the life of a Hong Kong domestic helper has almost nothing in common with a worker here in Robinsons - other than being Filipina. Kinda shocking if you actually see it in person.

 

Sure, as usual, my post was largely a joke.

Domestic helpers in Hong Kong probably don't have a great life. But working as a domestic helper in the Philippines is probably as bad or worse.

The problem is that the governments in question don't have rules (or support / enforcement) in place to offset the lopsided power structure. Without government backing of domestic helper as a profession, the position turns into that of a slave.

The employers don't have the ethical / moral backing to be fair and not exploit their workers. It's an amazing trait of the human condition that someone can justify allowing (much less forcing) a worker to put in day of more than 12 hours with few days off.

As a service professional myself I try to give professional respect to any service worker, including helpers who are working for me. Grandma in Hong Kong may not give that same respect. What should be a professional relationship turns into a social status game. Grandma has the money and status to demand a main, that maid is below her and the maid will act accordingly.

Fortunately, I'm in a socio-economic position that I have enough leverage that I don't need much in government backing. These domestic workers aren't in that same position.

 

While you are welcome to your opinion, I find your attitude sucks. IMHO I honestly thought you were bigger than that!