Disagreements between employers and workers are common in any industry, and domestic work is no exception. Given the challenges that come with hiring a foreign domestic worker, disputes can be difficult to handle, particularly since they can also involve employment agencies. While domestic work is not regulated under Singapore’s Employment Act, there are legal avenues that one can follow if a dispute cannot be resolved at home. Full-time domestic helpers come from ...
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By PathFinders Legislative Council’s statistics in 2018 revealed that the median hours of employees in Hong Kong (HK) is 44.3 hours per week - which is 4.3 hours more than the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) recommendation of 40 hours per week. During the ongoing pandemic, many employees in HK are reportedly clocking more hours as they work from home. As our day gets busy, it is likely that we will neglect to ...
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By PathFinders As Hong Kong enters the third year of the Covid-19 pandemic, and with many parents and their children currently working and learning from home under one roof, the boundaries between work and rest have become even more unclear. Not only are families at risk of greater stress and growing conflicts - it has a significant impact on Migrant Domestic Workers (MDW) as well. The heavier workload and longer working hours ...
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By PathFinders (Click here if you have not read phase 1.) In Phase 2 of your planning when experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, you will need to be looking ahead into the future. As a reminder, put things down in the format that works for you. It is important for you to be able to physically check where you are in the planning, to tick/cross what you’ve done, to see what you need/have to ...
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By PathFinders Some things in our lives happen unexpectedly and catch us off guard. This may either bring us happiness; or it may be so challenging that we hit a breaking point. If you are experiencing the latter, you are definitely not the only one! There is a famous Japanese proverb “fall seven times, stand up eight”. The message is simple yet powerful. When life knocks you down many times, all you ...
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When employing a domestic helper, the first thing that comes to mind is how to create a healthy relationship by clearly defining house rules such as setting up a work schedule. But after a few weeks or months, you might realize that respecting each other’s personal privacy is also a key factor to a harmonious home. There are over 370,000 foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong living with their employers. The majority ...
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Issues can sometimes arise and complicate your relationship with your domestic helper. If they have not promptly been dealt with, they can end up deteriorating your relationship with your domestic helper. Here are some of the most common problems you can face and a few tips to overcome them. Problem 1: You are not satisfied with your domestic helper’s work There might be various reasons why you are not satisfied with your ...
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When you hire a helper, you have an extra person in your house. She is not exactly your family member who you can share more intimate moments with, but she is in the house 24 hours six days a week! How can you respect her privacy and at the same time let her understand that your privacy should be respected too? Respecting your domestic helper’s privacy The first rule is that you ...
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Article provided by PathFinders The new year is the perfect time to make resolutions and plans for the year(s) ahead! If you are planning to be pregnant during your employment contract in Hong Kong, you should know your maternity rights and understand the effect of this important decision on you and your child. Your decision to have a child could have a significant impact on your employer’s household too. It ...
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Any search about domestic helper abuse in Hong Kong will send you down a scary rabbit hole. Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) abuse is widespread. In the past few years, several cases of mistreatment and abuse have shed light on those inhumane practices that (still) take place behind closed doors. Shockingly, those practices are by no means isolated incidents; however, the majority of cases go unreported – FDWs are not allowed ...
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