Most Filipino maids in Hong Kong would prefer Western employers over Chinese employers. Whenever they inquire from our employment agency for job opportunities, they are more likely to ask, “Do you have Western employers available?”
As an employment agency catering to both local and international market, we often receive inquiries from Western employers who are in need of domestic help from time to time as a result of our internet marketing using Google Adwords campaign.
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.
A study has been conducted by Chinese University of Hong Kong on how maids in Hong Kong are treated by their employers. Comparisons between Western and Chinese employers on their treatment of Filipina helpers are done in consideration of four major areas namely atmosphere of work environment, consideration, socio-psychological distance and personal space.
The data were based on in-depth and structured interviews of Filipino helpers who have served both types of employers. A few Western and Chinese employers were also interviewed.
Based on the study, it has been found that Western employers tend to provide their filipino domestic helpers with easier and comfortable work environment. Western employers were found to be more considerate and are more likely to treat their domestic helpers equally and allow them more personal space, thus giving the helpers more work satisfaction.
With the treatment of Filipino maids, homogeneity of expectations, attitudes and actions is also a trait of Western employers, as the study shows. Unlike the Chinese employers who are more detailed in expectations and diversified, Western employers tend to concentrate, generally, on the positive side. To sum it up, Filipino maids are more likely to know what Western employers are expecting of them and how they would be treated versus the Chinese whose treatment would greatly vary from one employer to the other.