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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Hiring a foreign domestic worker (FDW) is often thought to be the only solution to get extra hands to help around in the household. While FDWs play an extremely valuable role in many Singaporean and expat households – particularly by making it possible for breadwinners to strike a balance between their career and their personal life – they are hardly the only option. Hiring a FDW should not be taken lightly. ...
Read MoreBy PathFinders Love scams are on the rise in Hong Kong (HK). The most recent police figures show a 92% increase - 822 cases in the first six months of 2021, up from 429 in the same period last year. While no one is immune to online/love scams, Migrant Domestic Workers (MDW) are particularly vulnerable. The nature of their employment - long working hours and living-in with their employers - make them ...
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By PathFinders Many households in Hong Kong, especially those with young children and elderly parents, rely heavily on the support of foreign domestic helpers. When helpers need to be on long leave for a period of time – due to childbirth, illness, a crisis back home - it is understandable a lot of employers feel some degree of anxiety. The imminent questions tend to be: “What will happen to my household during ...
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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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Entrusting someone with the care of our children is in itself a pretty big leap of faith. Part of the job of being a parent is to make sure that our little ones are safe and always well taken care of. No matter how much we trust our domestic helpers, it is natural to worry – especially when we are away most of the day – and wonder whether our ...
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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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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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While it is understandable that the on-going protests in Hong Kong have inevitably interfered your daily life and you may need your domestic helper to work flexible hours, the protests are not a reason for you to exploit her. In a press statement released on 28 August, the Filipino Migrant Workers’ Union (FMWU) points out that some employers have been using the city’s spontaneous protest schedule as an excuse ...
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