Posted by
jpark
20 yrs ago
I am considering hiring a highly recommended helper who is pregnant and due at the end of June. She would like to have her baby in Hong Kong and I am trying to establish what the cost of that will be. Clearly we won't be able to obtain medical insurance for her at this stage so, if we do hire her, we will need to foot the bill. Does anyone know the costs involved, and where I can find out more?
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Obviously she would have to be extremely highly recommended. Have you spoken to her previous employer?? If she is that good then why is her previous employer not renewing her contract?? I have just employed a helper and she is amazing but I dont think I could employ a Pregnant helper (not that I think they would work any slower) but there will be a baby born soon and what will happen to it. Will she send it back to the Philippines for family to look after. Then you will have to pay for a flight and maybe holidays whilst this is happening. Over the next 3 months she may have to have 1 month off? I know when my helper started she specified that she needs to go back to the Philippines for 2 weeks and I agreed that it was Ok. Sure I can cope for 2 weeks. She has been working for 10 days and on her days off I am lost. My goodness how did I manage before. I dont know how I will manage for 2 weeks now!!
Think about all the other things that will go along with the pregnancy.
Sorry for being honest but maybe you havent thought of these things.
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I think you're getting in a lot of troubles ! Even if she's extremely good, her life is going to change so much with the presence of the baby.... It means a lot of issues and also a lot of financial involvement for you....
I know I'm not answering your question but it seems so crazy to me to do that for someone you hardly know !
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Ladyfrog-How is your helper going now?? Was it you who had hassles?? Sorry jpark to go off the tracks a bit.
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Gabercro, we've told her this morning that we terminate her !!! She just said "ok". I'm so relieved this is going to be over now.
The new one should come on Monday. She's younger and has worked for a chinese family only. I know it can only be better ;-)
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Ladyfrog can you go to my thread on this subject. I have just employed a helper myself. Dont want to take over this thread.
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knieriaw-I agree with what you are saying. I hope you havent taken what I said the wrong way!!
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I think knieriaw missed something here. Only those with problems and questions post their threads here. So all you read or hear are all the negative and bad things about DHs.
Wanting to employ a helper after her birth is nothing wrong. But it sounds really ridiculous to me that jpark wants to pay for her medical cost. If you are paying for someone that has been working for you for a long time, then I can understand. As far as I know, medical cost can be quite costly here if you are not a permanent resident. It sounds suspicious as well that her previous employer did not help or pay for her. My view point does not only apply on DHS. It applies to every employee in a commercial unit. Will you pay for the medical cost for one of your potential employees before she even starts working for you?
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jpark
20 yrs ago
Wow..thanks for all that. A bit of background. We've only been in Hong Kong for 5 months and I had to fire my last helper; she was working at night doing 'massage' (who has a massage late at night??), and was leaving the house without permission etc., I have two young children who took along time to get used to her and are both upset she's now gone. Therefore I really only want to hire someone who is recommended. I have spoken with the DHs previous employer who is returning home and therefore terminating her contract. She still raves about her. The plan is that the DH will have her baby in HK and then her neice will come to care for the baby during the day and she will return at night to feed the baby (her husband is in a boarding house). She will then take the baby back to the phillipines when we return home for the summer. According to the labour report, we aren't liable for any medical costs as she won't have worked for us for longer than 3 months and her previous employer is paying her 3 months salary. She is entitled to state medical benefits as she holds a HK ID card. I've not checked that that cover pregnancy, that's my next research job!! Having said all that, I'm still looking for someone as I'm starting to feel like this is just the hassle I don't need after the last fiasco. Thanks all.
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ness
20 yrs ago
Why don't you ring Queen May Hospital (or whichever public hospital nearest you does maternity and ask the the admissions/billing office what the situation would be. I have read several articles about mainland chinese women coming to HK specifically to have their babies and they are certainly not turned away... I have a feeling they still just pay the $100 a day fee for a public hospital.
Alternatively there is a special person in charge of dealing with things like this at the Phillipines Consulate. (The head of the department was my helpers good friend although she has just returned to Manilla so I can't give a specific name.) The section is called the Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA) and someone will be able to point you in the right direction I am sure PH 28613980 - is the departments number.
Agree with previous posters comments regarding expats not taking seriously the employment of helpers... they are entitled to all the benefits that we would expect for a full time overseas position and I get really annoyed with people who would be outraged if they or a friend were denied a job or sacked from a position because they were pregnant but would dismiss a good domestic helper because she may be pregnant. I know it is difficult when you are arranging a helper who is repsonsible for childcare because both parents work but that doesn't really excuse the hypocritical attitude taken by some employers here in HK... now I will get off my soapbox and go and have a cuppa.
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But old mac is right. dad is in a boarding house means nothing. He shld still share the cost. But have to say, in the filipino world, women are much more financially sound than men.
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Sounds like you have quite a complicated arrangement after the baby is born. But what about before the baby comes? She probably won't be able to lift heavy things or kneel or clean as well when she gets into her 7th, 8th and definitely 9th months. I'm afraid you might be taking care of her rather than the other way around.
Plus, I agree with Old Mac. I know women are generally the breadwinniers in Fillipino families but since dad's in a boarding house, that means he's getting income too. Let him pay for the baby!
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Well as you mentioned yourself - generalising - so we are talking about things in general and we are not specifically about you. There are just too many men from your country playing around and are not doing their job seriously. OF COURSE, there are some very good ones too. I am sure you are one of them! I worked in the private banking industry before and we had a lot of clients from the Philippines and a lot of them are men.
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