Indonesian Agency Charged

Posted by Ed (327 days ago)

Our HK office informs me that the owner of an Indonesian maid agency has been charged by the police over the weekend for over-charging the helpers.

Apparently this is the same lady who we reported to the ICAC a few years ago - she got off that time because the maids were too afraid to appear in court.

Subsequently this lady we found to be handing out flyers with the AsiaXPAT logo on them claiming she could find expat employers - she was charging a HKD500 sign up fee then posting her customers on our site (HKD180 fee) and pocketing the difference.

Of course she was also charging her processing fee of over 10k when she found them jobs.

I guess this might be referred to as karma...


Moral of the story - avoid maid agencies wherever possible - deal directly with the maids.

Find what you are after in our Hong Kong A-Z Directory

Posted by GreenValleys (326 days ago)

Best news I've heard today, Ed. Sad that it happens at all, but I guess that's human nature...and something about reaping what you sow.

Posted by Ed (326 days ago)

I have to say, it was interesting to put a face to this 'devil' when this lady came to our office wanting to take an ad to promote her agency...

I asked her point blank how much she charges the helpers to renew their contract and she said 12-18k... My response was - that's illegal... her's was - well, for your members who hire we can reduce the fee to the maids to 8k.

We then called the ICAC who set up a hidden camera and mic and I had her admit how much higher she charges and who is getting a piece of that action. Unfortunately nothing came of that so hopefully this time she will spend some time in Stanley (and not on the beach!).

Posted by ipod nano (325 days ago)

Ed - just for the information of others. I tried really hard to re-hire my helper directly without using an agency. I had imagined this would be a cakewalk. But you CANNOT imagine how difficult the Indonesian consulate made it for us to do this. They asked me for the following:

- new insurance although my previous one for her was valid for another 6 months. I even tried to do this and of course the insurance company thought i was crazy
- letter from helpers guardian even though she is an adult that she is indeed permitted to stay here
- "village papers" of the helpers mother. not sure why or wht this meant

but basically they asked us for so many "highly irritating" and irelevant things taht given my busy scheudule i just opted for an agency again!! which was exactly what they wanted..

so sadly i did lose this battle of principles....

Posted by Ed (325 days ago)

I dont think the consulate will allow you to process without an agent. They wont actually say it but they will as you have seen make it virtually impossible by throwing up roadblocks.

And they work only with a small number of selected agencies. We tried to apply for a license - no way.

Guess why the agencies charge the maids so much to renew helper visas.... guess where the cash goes... ICAC knows whats going and they nailed the consulate once some years ago - problem is they claim dip immunity, leave and are replaced by same.

If the HK govt really cared about this they would tell the consulate to straighten out its act or no more Indonesian helpers in HK... but the HK govt does nothing. Just like they do nothing about pollution.

Posted by Ed (322 days ago)

http://www.asiaxpat.com/news/

Posted by sidsingh (322 days ago)

Ed,

My wife tried to contact filipino helpers through the Asiaxpat Office ( Evelyn) - none of them turned up ?? Any tips ....?

Posted by Ed (322 days ago)

I think the reason for this is that the helpers with the best references get loads of calls from their ads on this site and loads of offers ... and once they get a job unfortunately they dont think to cancel appointments.

I will have our staff reinforce with the helpers that they must call to cancel appointments if they have already found jobs.