3/28/12

Filipino Maids - Why Filipino Maids Prefer Western employers

By Alice Sy


A huge number of filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong usually call our employment agency and ask if we have Western employers available. What is it that filipino domestic helpers prefer Western employers instead of Chinese employers ?

I often given them a resounding "Yes" since our agency receives requirements for domestic assistance from expatriates from time to time. Thanks to the power of internet marketing.

Based on my interviews with some of those Filipino maids, they prefer Western employers compared with Chinese employers in Hong Kong because they tend to be more understanding and generous with compensation.

The four major areas where Western employers shows an edge over the Chinese employers in terms of their treatment of filipino domestic helpers are : atmosphere of work environment, consideration, socio-psychological distance and personal space. This is the result of the in-depth study conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong on how domestic helpers in Hong Kong are treated by their employers.

In-depth study was made and structured interviews of filipino domestic helpers who have served both types of employers were carried out. A few Western and Chinese employers were also interviewed.

The results of the study indicate that the Filipino maids, in general, are more satisfied with their Western employers, who tend to provide them with easier and more comfortable work environment, over their Chinese employers. Their Western employers are also more considerate and are more likely to treat them equally, allowing them more personal space.

Western employers are more homogeneous in terms of variations in treatment of filipino domestic helpers and also tend to concentrate on the positive side while Chinese employers are more diversified. As a summary, filipino domestic helpers are more likely to know what Western employers are expecting of them and how they would be treated versus the Chinese employers where treatment usually vary from one employer to the other.




About the Author:



No comments: