Question for Cheeseen Gweilo

As a former Agency owner, I'm sure you could help me! We are about to terminate our helper, and I have researched what we need to do as far as giving a month's pay, money for a one-way ticket home, termination letter, etc., but I was wondering whether you could offer some advice? I know we need to ask her to sign off for receipt of everything we give her. I'm concerned about how and where she will go stay. (She has about 20 boxes of possessions-some quite heavy!) I can't let her stay because she is not honest.

Old mac, Amyvalentine is not the former agency owner. She wrote the thread addressing "Cheeseen Gweilo", the former agency owner.


As CG has not written back, I will attempt to answer your queries. Many DH's ship their stuff home in boxes available through the shipping companies they use. There are many of them around and DH's are experts in knowing which shipping companies to use - leave that for her to arrange. You have a right to check them boxes before they're sealed and shipped (and I'd suggest doing it - I know it's distasteful, but you don't want to find your possessions being shipped to far corners of the earth). You can ask her to get everything done before she leaves your home. This way she won't have so much to take with her. If she wants all the things with her here in HK, then it's up to her to arrange transport (many hire vans available) to wherever she's going.


When a DH is in between contracts, they usually go stay at a boarding house. There are many hundreds of them all over HK and they know where they are. Some are more expensive than others, but the DH's themselves know what's what. There are a few 'shelters' run by the Catholic church for DH's which provide good, clean and cheap and safe board and lodging at a daily rate of $5 or $10 (3 meals included).


I understand your concern for her, but I don't really think you ought to worry too much because foreign domestic helpers here know a lot more of such things than any of us do. They all have enough contacts to have a place to go. I'd only worry if she were new to HK and you'd terminated her contract before she's made contacts with other DH's.

Thanks so much blcw! I feel like I owe you a dinner for all the help you've given me over the past weeks. Your advice is reassuring. We have valid reasons for the termination (stealing small things etc) but still want to be fair and human. That's why I also want to know how much is fair for a one way ticket...

Amy,


Should you be interested to hire again.

Pls. give me a call t 98084896. I had worked

here in HK for 12 years with elderly, children care and pets.