No Luck with finding a helper!

we're a westernised indian family - looking for an indian/nepalese helper - why is it so hard to find one and why do they not want to work for us? my only requirement is that I would like the helper to be vegetarian with us.


our current helper is going back home when her contract ends.


i've arranged 6 interviews this weekend and 4 have already cancelled on me!


I've heard that 'indian families' from India seem to have a bad reputation according to some helpers I have spoken to - but we are a westernised family who have never lived in India. How do I get this message across and find a helper?


Any ideas most welcomed please

Don't despair, lots of helpers cancel or don't turn up for interveiw, the cold weather this weekend may have put a few off, it is nothing to do with your nationalityThe vegetarian requirement may be difficult for a few prospective helpers, mind you, saying that, a lot eat fish and vegetables.

There are some helpers in the 'helpers section' of this forum, Indian and Nepalese, have you had a look?

Good luck

Thanks Susie, it was really hard to find my current helper and i'm really sad she is leaving us especially since things have worked out so well. I've tried to keep her but she wants to go home to her family.


I've been through the entire indian/nepalese list on asiaxpat and no luck so far...is there any other places I should be looking?


The problem is we don't eat fish or meat for religious reasons - which I do understand can be hard going if you have are a non veg person. Our diet is rich in fresh veg and protein through pulses and beans - and it is international so it's not like we eat only indian food only but it seems to be the biggest issue......

I've been using this PT helper just been terminated by the employer as her employer is out of job. She is great and can start work on 25th Nov. PM me if u want her.

Hi chillifontain,


I am looking for a F/T helper. I am interested in meeting the P/T helper you mentioned. Could you pls help me to get in touch with her? thanks

You can consider paying food allowance so that the helper would cook her own food. This might attract a potential helper as the allowance is rather high now.

I am sure you are a lovely family to work for. Maybe you need to look at it from a prospective employees point of view? Would you queue up to work for someone who was already forcing their personal religious beliefs on your life before you even stepped through the door? You may need to rethink this rule. Personally I have never seen any good come from forcing ANY religious beliefs on others, even if in your own home. The potential helper will be imagining all sorts of things you will maybe force her to do/not do. Most of them have a tough enough time as it is with limited privacy and few personal freedoms that we Westerners take for granted. You need to make a job at least sound good if you want anyone good to apply, just like looking for any employee.


I pay my helper a food allowance and it works great. Actually I share my food with her often still, and she shares hers. But only when it's food each of us likes obviously! Maybe you can try that. Or if meat is so awful for you to have in your house, ask her to only cook it and eat it when you are out and to keep the kitchen fan on and door closed. You will never be impacted by it then. Likely a helper is going to eat meat when she goes out on her free time anyway - it is her human right to do so - you would never dream of telling your non religious friends they MUST NOT eat meat :-) So to me anyway it seems pointless and unfair banning her eating it in what will also be HER home too.


I am not against being vegetarian, in fact I was a vegetarian for 5 years until it became possible to get hold of meat from animals raised and killed ethically. But if friends wanted to eat meat, that was up to them. I was not backward in telling them about my views on how animals should be treated, but they were still welcome to slap a T-bone on my BBQ (away from the veggie side!). Anyway, did not mean to start a new thread so I will quit now!


Good luck.

Hi Jade, oh no I have only got ur message now. she just left HK on Tuesday but she is still very keen to come back. Should I contact her to let her know u're interested? it's such ashame ppl who can't find good helpers and they've to leave HK while the not so good ones are here!!!