Friday, October 03, 2008

Filipino Maids - Why Filipino Maids Prefer Western employers

By Alice Sy

A huge number of filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong usually call our employment agency and ask if we have Western employers available. What is it that filipino domestic helpers prefer Western employers instead of Chinese employers ?

I often given them a resounding "Yes" since our agency receives requirements for domestic assistance from expatriates from time to time. Thanks to the power of internet marketing.

Out of my curiousity, I often ask why filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong prefer to work with Western employers rather than Chinese employers. It is interesting to note that the former tends to be more understanding and are willing to pay higher than the minimum salary set by the Hong Kong government.

There are four major areas where Western employers show an edge over the Chinese employers in terms of their treatment of Filipina domestic helpers. They are atmosphere of work environment, consideration, socio-psychological distance and personal space. This study has been conducted by Chinese University of Hong Kong on how maids in Hong Kong are treated by their employers.

The data were based on in-depth and structured interviews of Filipino helpers who have served both types of employers. A few Western and Chinese employers were also interviewed.

The study shows that Western employers tend to provide their Filipino maids with easier and more comfortable work environment compared with the Chinese employers. They are more considerate, and are more likely to treat their maids equally and to allow them more personal space, thus, giving their helpers more satisfaction in working for them.

With the treatment of Filipino maids, homogeneity of expectations, attitudes and actions is also a trait of Western employers, as the study shows. Unlike the Chinese employers who are more detailed in expectations and diversified, Western employers tend to concentrate, generally, on the positive side. To sum it up, Filipino maids are more likely to know what Western employers are expecting of them and how they would be treated versus the Chinese whose treatment would greatly vary from one employer to the other. - 2364

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