Posted by
Ed
13 yrs ago
Here's an example of how helper agencies exploit maids... this was reported to our staff over the weekend:
“ I was hired through an employment agency in Philippines who has a partner agency here in Hong Kong. I paid P90,000 for the placement fee . I worked only for one month with a Chinese family and they terminated the contract because according to them , the children don’t like me. I approached the HK agency to help me find a new employer but they asked to pay another P20,000 before they will introduce me to other employer. “ Amy
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Hugie
13 yrs ago
Amy! This has been going on for as long as I have been in HK. 16 years! Agencies are crooks! I turned my findings over to scmp once, but they said they can't print it for legal reasons! What they are doing to you is illegal! If you want a long court case then go ahead and call the labour department. But as you well know, this is a long process. There used to be agency ran by a British guy who was on RTHK once a month sorting out helpers problems, don't know if he is still around! Good luck.
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Hugie
13 yrs ago
PS I took an agency to court on behalf of an Indonesian helper I knew. They got a smacked wrist, she got deported! It's sooooo unfair!
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Not ALL agencies charge helpers extortionate amounts, but many do. Ask questions of the agency and of helpers.
Find a good agency that does not charge helpers ridiculous amounts, and only charges AFTER a signed contract.
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Ed
13 yrs ago
How would you know if they are screwing over the helpers?
As noted on other threads, the reason we started an agency is because I tired of hearing stories on Monday mornings from our staff about how such and such an agency had overcharged...
One of the beauts was preying upon maids who were desperate for a job otherwise they would be sent home in days... the agencies would get interviews for them ONLY if they agreed to additional fees...
Of course the agency - and likely the maid - would not inform an employer of this...
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Ed
13 yrs ago
It's shocking that the Ph consulate does nothing to protect maids rights or police these agencies - considering foreign remittances are such a huge part of the country's GDP... without them the Phils economy would collapse... sad indeed...
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PuiK
13 yrs ago
yonon11 - Why you think it's only the hongkie's fault if the helper is being terminated after a short period of time?
I hired someone in the office earlier days and she didn't even know how to use outlook! I was so shocked I thought everyone knows how to use outlook esp she told me she could use email during the interview. I questioned her and she said she only knew how to use email on Facebook.
I fired her after 2 days. So was that my fault? I paid her for that 2 days.
Or would you say that i should be doing all the work in my office alone and let's see what would happen to me if this hongkie doesn't have anyone to help out in my office?!??
I just hate people always say how bad the hongkies are vs how poor the POOR MAIDS are. Come on, that's just empolyment.
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FKKC
13 yrs ago
Well said, cara.
Hey yonon, you were not discussing, only doing mean generalising. I wouldn't ever want to be in your DH's shoes as you are so prejudice & get flare up so easily before making sure of the situation.
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Agree with cara and FKKC. Whenever there's a generalization of "all helpers" or all "Filipino helpers" or "all indonisian helpers" on this forum, our expat commentators almost never fail to deliver the (well justified) reprimand in minutes. However, most commentators including the administrator seem to simply turn a blind eye on or even condone the same type of talk about the Chinese or hong kongers or the local. Do people feel they are occupying a moral plateau by speaking out for the "weaker", even by adopting a double standard which goes against their own asserted principle?
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Fixer
13 yrs ago
From experience of hirng (and firing) helpers, I know most agencies work or earn from the maids having to borrow money from their associated lenders to pay off their agency fees, which can be several months of their salary.
So if the scam as Amy put it was true, then I doubt the agencies involved would not last very long in that respect. How can you force someone to pay when there's no income stream?
I think Amy was either really unklucky in that sense or just over sold herself on her resume, like Puik's office girl.
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Fixer
13 yrs ago
Well said miao miao! Another thing that gets up my nose is, it seems OK on this board to call locals "Honkies" which I find derogatory. I am sure that if I posted a comment regarding brown skinned SE Asians as P*k*s, the message would be censured and deleted.
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PuiK
13 yrs ago
Thanks very much. I didn't hire a DH to do my office work. I was just showing some examples as after all they are all just empolyment.
And I am not happy with this word "Honkies' either but nevermind. Fixer is right people on this site wouldn't call black people nixger or asian Pxkxs.
Yonon11 you seem like a super angry person i wonder what happened to you maybe you would like to share your experience. There are always good and bad people you don't need to use this topic to insult the "Honkies' as you call them.
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There is the argument that the 10% finders ( legal) fee is far too low and I happen to agree. But the exploitation as in the above is clearly wrong as should be stopped where detected. Encouragement for the helpers through education is the best way I think. Labour department are good too. I have done a number of cases. Often the problem is evidence. Sad to say that even in this city (world class) the helpers have to walk around with wires (as is in recording equipement)
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Agencies are very good in finding ways to make applicants pay. They are notorious for accepting thousands of applicants for a handful of available jobs. The applicants, of course has to pay a registration fee before anything else. Have their papers photo copied inside the agency, photos taken by the agent, medical taken by the agent's contact.
One agent I could name but some may recognize went on available Italian job rampage where thousands registered with their application for HK 250. The said agency has a multi million house in Manila. Huge plasma TV on dozens of rooms, dining table --only two in the world- costing almost 2 million pesos. Just a handful of maid as most maid on pre departure training "trains" in her house.
When I went home, I was asked by a friend to open an employment agency. I have the capital and the experience for it. what I do not have is the stomach for it.
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