僱主常見問題 (關於護照及工作簽証) Q&A 1, 2, 3
問 1：我的家庭傭工應在何時更換新的護照和工作簽證？
A1：每個外藉家庭傭工的護照應在逾期前6個月更換新護照。由於菲律賓領事館給予菲傭工簽證的到期日，通常較護照的到期日早。故大部分外傭之工作簽証均少過兩年。因此，你的外傭應依時在其護照逾期前6個月，到領事館更新護照，然後再到入境處更新、延長其工作簽證。
問2：誰有責任提醒我的菲傭更新她的護照和工作簽證？
A 2：每個菲傭都有責任按時檢查和更新她的護照和工作簽證。所有僱主均有責任確保你外傭的護照和工作簽證在任何時候都有效。容讓菲傭在她護照/ 工作簽證過期的情況下，逾朝居留及繼續在你家工作，都是違法的。
問3：如何在香港換領菲律賓護照？
欲詳閱有關資料，請按下面連結：
How to Renew your Philippine Passport in Hong Kong
Employers Q&A (about Passport & Working Visa) 1, 2, 3
Q 1: When Should my domestic helper renew her passport and working visa?
A1: Every domestic helper's passport should be renewed 6 months before it is expired. The expiry date of the working visa is usually earlier than the expiry date of the passport. So, your helper should check and renew her passport in the consulate on time, then bring the old and new passport to the immigration department to renew their working visa.
Q 2: Who' s responsibility to remind my helper to renew her passport and working visa?
A 2: It is the helper's responsibility to check and renew her passport and working visa on time. All employers should also make sure the passport and the working visa of your helper(s) are valid at any time. It is illegal for a domestic helper to work in your home with an expired working visa.
Q 3: How to renew the Philippine passport in Hong Kong?
For detail, please click on the link below and read:
How to Renew your Philippine Passport in Hong Kong
僱主常見問題Q&A 1
Q:可如何協助不懂說英語的長者和外傭更有效地溝通？
A:若你家中有不懂說英語的長者，和𣎴懂說廣東話/普通話的菲傭，以下一些方法可促進她/他們更有效地溝通：
1.提醒長者，與外傭溝通，需要耐性，和彼此有不明白對方意思時，鼓勵他們用身體語言溝通。
2.若長者能閱讀中文，僱主可寫下長者和外傭中英對照常用詞語、問題、對答等，讓他們透過文字溝通。Arrow僱主可以電郵給kathy@arrowes.hk，索取中英菲對照常用語和學廣東話的筆記。
3.若長者懂得用電話寫中文，可豉勵他們用google translate溝通
4. 鼓勵他們即時尋求協助，如：致電僱主或某家人/找家中小孩協助即時傳譯。
5.若聯絡不到那家人，長者可否聯你的外傭中介公司求助? Arrow可提供協助予Arrow僱主及其長者家人，幫助即時傳譯廣東話。
6.長遠而言，給外傭一本筆記簿，寫下不同事物的廣東話/普通話併音，要她學廣東話/普通話。
7.報名與長者一同上僱主班，讓長者了解外傭文化，增加其對異文化的了解。菲傭僱主班詳情可登入以下網頁：
http://arrowes.hk/events/
外傭放假返菲律賓時，僱主應注意甚麼？
外籍家傭離港回菲律賓放假前，請確保她已申請 海外就業證書(OEC)。
外傭必須持有有效OEC，才可於放假後返港繼續工作。方法：
1 網上申請，詳情可登入：
Get your Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) or Exemption Online
(只限於放假後，回港為同一僱主工作之菲傭)
2 親身前往菲律賓領事館申請。 她應攜帶： 護照連有效土作簽証、海外工人福利協會(OWWA)會籍、機票、僱主証明信、費用HK$20。(適用於放假後，回港為新僱主工作之菲傭)
詳情可登入:
http://hongkongpcg.dfa.gov.ph/index.php/oec-poea-overseas-employment-certificates/103-labor-employment
3. 雙方簽署一封信，若外傭不依時回港，將被視為自動離職。
Sample of Agreement between Name of Employer and Name of Employee for if Employee will not come back after the Holidays.
Dear Name of Employee,
You will have holidays from date of departure from HK to date of arrival to HK.
If you do not come back and report for duty on date of arrival to HK after the Holidays, by mutual agreement, we both agree that this failure to return on time means that you are breaking the contract without notice and willingly forego any compensation that might be due to you under the contract.
I also will consider the contract terminated and will not seek any compensation from you in respect to the contract no. ___________. In addition, I will report to the Hong Kong Immigration Department that our contract is terminated and that you will not be returning to work for me.
Signature of Employer
(Name of Employer)
(Date of signing the letter)
Signature of Employee
(Name of Employee)
(Date of signing the letter)
What to prepare if your helper will have holidays back to the Philippines...
If your helper will have holidays back to the Philippines, please make sure she will get Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) before she will leave Hong Kong.
A domestic helper cannot enter HK without a valid OEC. It is issued by the Philippines Consulate. Method:
1 Get OEC by online. For detail, please go to: Get your Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) or Exemption Online
(It applies to those domestic helpers who will work for the same employment contract with the same employer)
2 Apply in the Philippine Consulate. She should bring the air ticket, passport with valid visa, information sheet(form supplied), $20. HKID, valid OWWA membership, Authorization letter(for representative).
(It applies to those domestic helpers who will work for a new employer under a new employment contract)
Please go to:
3. Write a letter of agreement, bother sign and keep a copy:
Sample of Agreement between Name of Employer and Name of Employee for if Employee will not come back after the Holidays
Dear Name of Employee,
You will have holidays from date of departure from HK to date of arrival to HK.
If you do not come back and report for duty on date of arrival to HK after the Holidays, by mutual agreement, we both agree that this failure to return on time means that you are breaking the contract without notice and willingly forego any compensation that might be due to you under the contract.
I also will consider the contract terminated and will seek any compensation from you in respect to the contract no. ___________. In addition, I will report to the Hong Kong Immigration Department that our contract is terminated and that you will not be returning to work for me.
____________________
Signature of Employer
(Name of Employer)
(Date of signing the letter)
____________________
Signature of Employee
(Name of Employee)
(Date of signing the letter)
為嬰兒洗澡時，可如何預防他們着涼？ 林麗琼
以下是預防嬰兒在洗澡時着涼的貼士。確保你和你的家傭遵循：
1在冬天，在替嬰兒洗澡或幫他們換衣服前，確保：
i 準備環境。先關閉房間裡的所有窗口。保持房間溫暖。若有恆溫系統，可調較室溫至攝氏25-26度。
ii 須準備好嬰兒沐浴的所有物品，如：尿片、潤膚膏、護臀霜、衣服 +/- 手套、襪子、帽子、梳子；把其放存正確的地方。
iii 如家傭第一次出國做外傭，僱主最好為她製作一個/要她寫下嬰兒沐浴用品清單，以助她們清楚嬰兒沐浴前，需準備什麼東西。
iv 準備洗澡用的水。如果你有水溫度計，可調較水溫至36-38攝氏度。無論有没有水溫度計，你也必須用手肘(elbow)試水溫。如果你的肘部感覺水是温䁔 ，這意味著水温適合嬰兒沐浴。
v 抱嬰兒，替其檢查尿布後，立即開始為嬰兒洗澡。
vii 由替嬰兒脫衣，到用沐浴後用毛巾包裹嬰兒，應在5-10分鐘完成。沐浴時間越長，嬰兒着涼機會越高。
viii 如果您希望家傭在給嬰兒沐浴時，使用䁔爐，請確保你清楚地教導她䁔爐應放在哪裡、如何使用、使用時應注意事項及何時開/關機。如果對操作有任何疑問，應詢問你。
How to prevent the babies from getting cold when bathing them By Kathy Lam Lai King
Below are the tips to prevent the babies from getting cold during bathing. Make sure you and your helper follow:
In winter: close all the windows in the room where you are going to bath the babies /kids and help them to change clothes.
All the things for baby bath must be prepared well and put properly in the right place before preparing the water for bathing. If it is your helper’s first time to be domestic helper, you should make a checklist of baby bath for your helper, so she may prepare and organize the things well.
Keep the room warm and bath water comfortably warm but not hot. If you regulate the room temperature, set it at 25-26º C.
If you have a bath thermometer, warm the water to about 36-38 º C. No matter you use bath thermometer or not, you MUST check the water temperature before bathing the baby. Immerse your elbow in the water. If your elbow feel that the water is warm enough, it means the water is suitable for bathing a baby.
When everything is prepared, check the diaper before removing baby's clothes. After removing baby's clothes, bath baby immediately.
Limit the time of baby bath. From removing all baby's clothes to wrapping the baby with dry towel after bathing : should finish within 5-10 minutes only. Bathing baby for over 10 minutes may increase the risk of the baby to get cold.
If you want your helper to use an electric heater when bathing your baby, make sure the heater is safe to use. It is the employer's responsibility to teach the helper clearly where the heater should be put, how to use it, precautions when using it, when should the heater be turned it on/off. If you don’t know, ASK your employer.
教你的外傭在冬季照顧嬰兒/孩子時，應注意之事項
在冬天，很多有嬰孩的僱主經常抱怨他們的菲傭沒有給予孩子們足夠衣物保䁔，結果導致他們的孩子着涼，需要看醫生。
為何這投訴如此普遍？
由於菲律賓是一個熱帶國家，那裡的人從沒經歷過冬天。故此，正常新來港菲傭缺乏天氣變化和孩子健康關係的經驗和知識。若期望新來港菲傭應懂得幫孩子們在睡覺時蓋被，冬天孩子外出時應穿多少衣服、如何控制浴時間... ...等，以為她們具有與香港人一樣的高度保䁔意識（我們從小就經歷冬天)，這都是不切實際的。
那麼，我們可如何裝備我們的菲傭在冬天更有效地照顧我們的孩子？以下是我們應耐心地教導菲傭的一些知識：
如何檢查並確認嬰兒/兒童是否足夠？
1檢查其頸背和腳板底。如果嬰兒/孩子們夠暖，他們的頸背和腳板底應該常保持溫暖。如果他們的頸背和/或腳板底是冷的，則表示孩子們不夠溫暖，我們應該幫他們穿更多的衣服。在冬季和外出時，教菲傭更應定期檢查嬰兒/孩子的溫度，以確保他們不會太熱太冷，有没有出汗。如果嬰兒/孩子們太熱，幫他們脫下外套。
2在嬰兒/孩子的背部放毛巾。不論任何時間，若他們太熱，有汗水，毛巾可以吸收汗水，我們只需替他們更換背部的毛巾，嬰兒和孩子便不容易因出汗而感冒。
3如果菲傭與孩子在同一個房間睡覺，應教她們在睡覺前，應主動再次檢查嬰兒/孩子的頸背和腳板底。如果背部有汗水，替他們更換背部的毛巾。如果孩子們的頸背/腳板底是冷的，幫他們加衣物/襪子/被子。如果嬰兒的衣服不能覆蓋嬰兒的腿，菲傭該幫嬰兒穿褲子。
4教你的菲傭在不同的溫度、場合、活動，該幫助孩子們穿什麼樣的/多少衣服。
5無論什麼季節，凡孩子們要外出，也要向菲傭說明應帶哪件外套/嬰兒毯子。不要假設她懂。
冬季和你的菲傭
如現在是你菲傭的第一個冬天，她不知道應穿多少衣物保暖。確保你提供足夠的衣物物給你的菲傭在工作時穿，睡覺時有足够被子/毯子保暖。當然，僱主沒必給菲傭購買新衣服。她們多數都不介意穿二手衣服。如果天氣很冷，提你的菲傭睡覺時可以穿襪子。在冬季，應主動告知外傭你預算她應每隔多久，洗外套、毛衣、牛褲一次。
冬天近了，我衷心祝福所有的僱主，都滿意你的外傭的表現。你的教導有助於使她在冬天有效照顧好你的嬰兒/孩子。
Teach Your Helper(s) How To Take Care of Your Baby/Kids In Winter by Kathy Lam
In winter, a lot of employers with babies/kids often complain their helpers from the Philippines for not keeping their kids warm enough, which results in their kids getting cold and need to see doctor.
WHY IS THIS PHENOMENON SO COMMON?
As the Philippines is a country in the tropical, the people there never experience winter. It is normal for the helper to lack awareness of the weather change in relation to the health of the kids, i.e. how many clothes should they help the kids to put on before bed, when going out, how to control the bath time, … It is unrealistic to expect them to have as high consciousness as Hong Kong people(we experience winter since the first year we were born!) automatically.
Then, what can we do to equip our helper(s) to take care of our kids better in winter? Below are some knowledge we should teach our helpers patiently:
HOW TO CHECK AND MAKE SURE THE BABY/KIDS ARE WARM ENOUGH ?
1 check their napes and/or soles. If the baby/kids are warm enough, their napes/soles should always be warm when touch. If their napes/soles are cold, it means the baby/kids are not warm enough, and we should help them to put on more clothes.
2 It’s good to put a towel on our babies/kids’ back all the time, so if they are too hot and have sweat, the towel can absorb the sweat, we can just change another towel, and our babies/kids are less likely to get cold because of the sweat.
3 If the helper sleep with the babies/kid in the same room, teach them to check the baby/kids’ nape and sole again before the helper sleeps. If the back has sweat, change the towel on his/her back. If the baby/kid’s feet are cold, help them to put on socks. If the baby’s clothes is not long enough to cover the baby’s legs, the helper should help the baby wear pants, too.
4 Teach our helpers what kind of / how many clothes we should help our babies to put on at home/when go out in different temperature. Never assume your helper knows.
5 Teach our helpers that they MUST bring jacket/baby blanket for them whenever they go out, no matter what season is. In winter, helper should be taught also to check regularly the temperature of the babies/kids to make sure they are not too hot and sweat when they are indoor. Assist the them to take off the jacket if they are hot.
Winter and your Filipino helpers
If it is your domestic helper’s first winter, she did not know how many clothes to wear to keep warm in winter. Make sure you provide enough clothing for her to wear at work and have enough blankets to keep warm while sleeping. Of course, it is not necessary for employers to your helper new clothes. Most of them do not mind to wear second-hand clothes. If the weather is cold, remind your helper she can wear socks when sleep. In winter, you should take the initiative to teach your helper how frequent she should wash her long pants, jacket, sweater, etc.
Winter comes, I sincerely wish all employers, are satisfied with the performance of your Filipino helpers. Your teaching helps to make her become competent in taking care of your baby / child in the winter.
How to end arguing with your kids
Do you notice that kids argue and negotiate about almost everything these days? It’s not just in line for ordering a pizza, but children negotiate bedtimes, what movies the family will watch and when to do homework. It’s a common problem, but one easily resolved. READ MORE
The Best Way To ‘Discipline Without Damage,’ From Toddlers To Teens http://flip.it/TeJWjr
“我要回家過聖誕節!”
聖誕節乃菲傭辭職旺季。以下建議可大大減低你的菲傭在聖誕前辭職的可能性。
聖誕節在菲律賓是一個重大節日
菲律賓是基督徒數目最多的亞洲國家，天主教徒約人口80％ 。因此，聖誕節是菲律賓最重要的節日。
菲律賓人喜歡慶祝聖誕節。商店在九月開始已播放聖誕頌歌！正式的聖誕慶祝活動開始於12月16日， 直到聖誕節當日為止。有些地方甚至慶祝聖誕到一月頭。
聖誕節也是菲傭辭職旺季
從十月到十二月，越來越多的菲傭會思鄉，想回去菲律賓與家人慶祝聖誕節。有些人甚至可能會因此而出現抑鬱症狀、他們的工作表現可能會下跌。
作為僱主，我們該怎麼辦？我們如何確定家傭是否思鄉？如何防止他們辭職？下面是一些建議：
我的菲傭想在聖誕節放年假
許多菲傭，即使工作不足1年，也可能會要求他們的僱主在十二月讓他們回鄉放假。他們思鄉強烈到一個地步，如果僱主拒絕給他們假期，探望家人，他們可能隨時會辭職。 若這發生，你應該如何處理這請求？
確定你能否讓她回鄉放假
如果你能够讓她們放假回家，請記住以下幾點：
請記住，當菲傭放7天年假時，她仍享有每星期的一天有薪假：即享有7天年假+ 每週休息一天= 8天長假。您也可以考慮給她加放無薪假/累積假期，讓她有足夠的時間，與家人享受假期。
菲傭須支付自己機票、交通。除非她正和你續約，或者其中一方終止合同，否則，你不需支付她的機票。有些僱主喜歡全額或半額支付機票，作為給菲傭的聖誕禮物。有些僱主則喜歡待菲傭放完假回港，才把機票錢全額或半額送給機票，以鼓勵其她們假期後回港。不管你如何安排，請清晰記錄假期的計算、雙方簽署，各有一備分，以避免將來爭拗。
此外，請提醒你的菲傭，她需要拿海外就業證書（OEC）。詳情可登入以下綱頁：
你也要寫信，說明你的菲傭將會放假返菲律賓，假後會回港繼續工作。若没有OEC，菲傭會被禁止入境。
在這裡看到我們的樣本信。 （ Sample of letter to certify your helper is working for you, to apply oec ）
還有，您應與菲傭簽下協議，明確規定，若她未能如期回港工作，則將被解釋為擅自離職，其工作簽証將會立即被終止。 （ What to prepare if your helper will have holidays back to the Philippines 外籍家傭放假回菲律賓前，應預備 ）
如果你不可能讓她們回家放假，直接告訴她們：“真的很抱歉，我知道你非常想念你的家人，希望我可以讓你回家過聖誕節。但在那段時間裡，我們迫切需要為你。”向菲傭解釋你的難處，告訴她，你會作出安排，讓他們可以有時間用Skype與家人團聚。
我的菲傭會在香港渡聖誕假。我能做些什麼，使她離家的聖誕變得特别？
給她一個紅包 - 在香港工作不3個月的菲傭，她們可以享受法定假日(無薪)。也就是說，僱主在菲傭放公眾假期時，可扣除她當天的工資。我們建議你對您的你菲傭慷慨。即使她工作不足3個月，讓她享受聖誕節一天的工資。這可直接助你的菲傭感受到你的愛和關懷。
對在香港工作3個月以上的菲傭 : 可以考慮給她一個紅包作為聖誕禮物或紅利，使她們能夠盡情與朋友慶祝聖誕、享受假期 。金額按僱主喜好而決定。
觀察你的菲傭可有思鄉跡象 - 如：易哭，木無表情，工作表現下降，您或您的配偶（取決於誰管理她）應該找個時間跟她傾談，感謝她離鄉別井，到你的家中工作，然後與她分享你對她的觀察。耐心聆聽，安慰她，讓她知道你很欣賞她為家人作出的犧牲。
儘量安排讓菲傭在聖誕節當日放假 - 讓她可享受假期和與親友共聚時間。(僱主可決定讓她放冬至或聖誕節）
如果你不能讓她在25/12放假，請考慮給她平安夜放假。在聖誕當日給她較長時間使用手機，與家人聊天。如果你不想與菲傭分享WIFI密碼，可以考慮借你的電腦或筆記本電腦給她，讓她可使用SKYPE與家人在聖誕節聊天，以減她思鄉之情。
聖誕即將來臨，準備好條件。願你和你的助手享受寧靜和聖誕快樂。
Is the "live in" rule really so bad?
For those pushing for an end to the live in rule for FDHs, you need to face the fact that you will be forcing them into living situations similar to the ones described here. While it might result in better hours it could also result in horrendous living conditions. This might be a case of "be careful what you wish for". Look at SCMP article below.
Coffin cubicles, caged homes and subdivisions … life inside Hong Kong's grim low income housing
I'll be home for Christmas - one way or the other by Kathy Lam
Christmas is the peak season for resignations among Filipino Domestic Helpers.
Christmas is the peak season for resignations among Filipino Domestic Helpers. Here is what you can do to prevent your helper from resigning.
Christmas is a BIG deal in the Philippines
The Philippines is the only Asian country with a majority of Christians, about 80% of people being Catholics. Therefore, Christmas is the most important holiday in the Philippines. People in the Philippines like to celebrate Christmas for as long as possible! The playing of Christmas carols in shops can start in September! The formal Christmas celebrations start on 16th December when many people go to the first of nine pre-dawn or early morning masses. The last mass is on Christmas day. The Christmas celebrations usually continue until the First Sunday in January.
Christmas (Oct/Nov/Dec) is also the peak season for resignations among Filipino FDHs. From October to December, more and more Filipino domestic helpers become homesick and want to celebrate Christmas with their families in the Philippines. Others will show signs of depression and their performance may suffer.
As employers, what shall we do? How do we determine if our helpers are homesick or not? How to prevent them from quitting the job? Here are some suggestions:
My helper wants to take her annual leave during the Christmas season
Many helpers, even those who have worked for less than 1 year, will ask their employer’s permission to have holidays back home in December. Their desire is so strong that if the employers refuses to give them holidays to meet their families, they will sometimes resign. - How should you handle such requests?
Decide if this will work for you or not
If you can't possibly allow them to go home, tell them directly "I'm really sorry, I wish I could let you go home for Christmas, but we desperately need your service during that time. I know you miss your family greatly." Explain the difficulty to them and tell them you will make arrangements for them to have some good skype time with their families.
If you can arrange it keep the following in mind:
- Remember, whenever a domestic helper takes one week annual leave , you need to also add one day for their weekly holiday; 7 days annual leave + 1 weekly day off = 8 days holiday. You may also give the helper some unpaid leave so that she has enough time to travel home to the province, enjoy the holiday with her family, and then travel back to Hong Kong.
- The helper is responsible to pay for her own annual leave travel arrangements. Unless she is finishing her contract or you are terminating the contract, you are not responsible to pay for her annual leave air tickets. Some employers like to give full or half payment of the air ticket as a Christmas gift. Other employers will like to give the full or half payment of the air ticket when the helper return to Hong Kong, to encourage their helpers to come back after the holidays. No matter how you arrange things, please document clearly the calculation of holidays.
- Tell your helper she needs to update her POEA OEC. Your helper can now update online here: POEA OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATES (OEC)
- Write a letter stating that your helper is returning to the Philippines for annual leave and you intend to continue employing her until the end of the contract period. This will prevent problems going through Philippines Immigration.
- You may also wish to write an agreement with your helper to clearly state that failure to return from holiday will be interpreted as termination of contract. Here is a sample agreement.
Uniquely Filipino Nativity Scene
My helper is staying in HK for the Christmas holiday. What can I do to make her Christmas away from home a special time?
Give her a red pocket:
For helpers working in Hong Kong for less than 3 months, they can enjoy the statutory holiday WITHOUT PAY. That means the employer shall let their helper enjoy the statutory holidays but employers can deduct that day’s salary. We recommend that you treat your helper with generosity. Even if she is here less than 3 months, let her enjoy the Christmas Day WITH PAY. It is a practical way to show your concern and will help your helper to feel your love and care directly.
For helpers working for more than 3 months in Hong Kong, consider to give your helper a red pocket(with money) as Christmas as gift or bonus, so they can enjoy a better meal with friends. The amount is up to employer’s decision.
If you observe they show any signs of homesickness: your helper easily cries, has no facial expression, performance drops suddenly, you or your spouse (depends on who manages the helper) should find a time to talk to your helper, thank her for leaving home to work in your family, and then share with her your observations. Listen to her, comfort her and let her know that you appreciate her sacrifice for her family.
Give your helper holiday on Christmas day: December 25th.
Employers can decide either to give their helper holiday on the Chinese Winter Solstice Festival or Christmas Day). Give her Christmas rather than the Winter Solstice if possible.
If you cannot manage to give your helper holiday on December 25, please consider to give her holiday on Christmas Eve. Give her longer time to use mobile to chat with her family member on Christmas. If you do not feel comfortable to share the wifi password with your helper, consider to lend her your computer or laptop, so they may use skype to chat with their family on Christmas.
Christmas is near, get prepared. May you and your helper enjoy a peaceful and Merry Christmas.
Science and kid's sleep
Regular bedtimes and adequate sleep help kids avoid obesity, cuts down on misbehavior and helps them excel in school.. Here's the latest insights from science. Why We Should All Be Putting Our Kids to Bed Super Early, According to Science.
http://flip.it/gvtn9A
Filipinos as debt slaves and VICTIMS
Search for the terms "debt slaves" and "domestic helpers" and you'll find many articles decrying the ill treatment of domestic helpers in Hong Kong and blaming agencies for forcing helpers to borrow money to pay agency fees. * It undoubtedly happens and people shouldn't have to go in debt to get a job, BUT it also happens every day in the Philippines and NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT IT.
Did you know that in the Philippines -
first year teachers don't get paid UNTIL the END of the school year so in order to get by, the school loans them money and charges them a high interest rate. They start their career as debt slaves.
Nurses have to pay large sums to take the nursing board exam and once they pass the exam, instead of getting paid, they have to pay a hospital to employ them for the first year. They start their career as a debt slave!
I interviewed one applicant who worked in administration at the Univ. of the Philippines. I was perplexed - "Why do you want to be a DH in Hong Kong?" She said "my salary is only 6000 pesos a month". I said "No way! Impossible!" She told me that the University had loaned her money, payday loans, advances, medical loans etc. to help her make ends meet and now they KEPT most of her salary to service her debt to them. Her take home pay was now less than HKD $1000/month. She was a debt slave.
"can we please stop treating helpers like they are unintelligent HELPLESS VICTIMS??"
Many of those in Hong Kong who are fighting on behalf of domestic helpers treat them as if they are an oppressed underclass, while completely ignoring the realities of life and work in the Philippines. The Hong Kong and International media pick up on this rhetoric and re-hash old stories of abuse to remind us that problems in the system are still with us today. Throughout their stories and the rhetoric of the NGO's agencies and HK employers and the HK government are portrayed as greedy and evil and OFWs are portrayed as powerless victims with few rights. It is a stark black and white tale.
Our DH's deserve better working conditions, less hours, more pay, the right to live out, etc. The deserve a government free of corruption and a good economy at home so they don't need to work overseas unless they want to. They should be treated with fairness and dignity by both employers and agencies. But can we please stop treating them like they are unintelligent HELPLESS VICTIMS?? OMG!
At Arrow we interview applicants every week and ask them why they are applying to Arrow. The most frequent answer? "My friend recommended me, so I did some research on the Internet to see what your reputation and charges were. Then I decided to apply to Arrow." Is that the answer of an ill informed country rube who better watch her wallet? I know many things need to change in Hong Kong, but the picture the activists paint depicting all agencies and employers as devils and all applicants as helpless victims - I don't recognize this picture and for most Filipinos - I don't believe it to be accurate.
NGOs and activists know that the employment situation for Filipinos and Indonesians is very different (Indonesians almost always come to HK with debt, but most Filipinos now come to HK without paying agency fees and without debt related to their deployment). Still they lump them together and relive the story of Erwiana, an Indonesian maid who was tortured and abused by her employer (now in jail) and give the world the impression that this is the norm in Hong Kong. Black and white, good and evil morality stories are better for causing guilt and pressuring the powers that be to enact change. The truth is more nuanced, more gray and less useful for the cause.
I think that this rhetoric is demeaning to OFWs. The DH's that I know and have grown to deeply respect, are intelligent, loving, hard working, thoughtful and wise people. While in HK they save for their future, finish degrees, lay plans to start small businesses, serve God in Churches. There are many things I can call them, but you will never hear me call them VICTIMS. I wish my friends who care about their situation here would stop using the vocabulary of oppression and victim-ology. Let's fight for an end to the live-in rule, for reasonable work hours and better pay, but can you please give the "the agencies, the HK government and employers are evil monsters & helpers are powerless, uninformed victims" morality tale a rest?
* Footnote: Since the implementation of the "zero placement fee" policy in the Philippines complaints against agencies from helpers has dropped by around 66% (according to what I was told by a labor official at the Consulate).
Website goes down
Yesterday our website and around 1,000,000 others went down when Squarespace, our hosting company had an outage. Things are back to normal now, but it's a bit scary when you realize that your business won't function without the internet.
http://uk.businessinsider.com/squarespace-is-reporting-a-major-outage-2016-4
The Consumer Council's Report on Complaints against Agencies
screenclip from the Consumer Council Report about domestic helper agencies
Yesterday the Hong Kong Consumer Council issued a report about complaints against employment agencies. (I've included a link to the English version.) They highlight 3 complaints and the report is highly subjective, but nonetheless interesting. The report is subjective because much of the complaints are about poor performance on the part of helpers, but the consumer council NEVER talks to any of the helpers to hear their side of the story. The agencies are blamed for the problems employers have with their employees and this is helpful in that it points out the weakness in the system of deploying helpers.
In one case after waiting months, the helper NEVER came, NEVER did a medical and the agency NEVER submitted the application to Immigration. The employer should receive a full refund (IMHO).
In another case the helper's video shows her speaking Cantonese but when she arrived she could NOT communicate in Cantonese. The lesson: don't trust the videos. I went on one large agency's website and looked at bios. The lady's seem to have good English, but after watching her eyes I could see she was reading. We interview applicants via skype every Tuesday. In one interview the applicant's English pronunciation was excellent, but I noticed her looking down. After I told her to look directly at the camera and talk me, she couldn't answer simple questions. We naturally failed her. Our customers have the chance to interview potential candidates at length and we give them tips on how to get around the answers the ladies have memorized ahead of time. Employers complained to the Consumer Council about under performance. That is highly subjective and the helper should have the chance to share her side of the story. In almost every case, helpers need a month or two to rise up to HK standards.
In the third case the helper deceived both the agency and the employer pretending she wasn't ex-Hong Kong. If the agency didn't ask clearly, check her passport stamps, etc. then they are at fault. The truth is that some applicants are deceitful and you have to be vigilant in your screening. At Arrow we interview and screen new applicants every Tuesday. Most don't pass. We have 3 staff involved and we consult with each other during interviews. We don't leave the screening up to our partner in the Philippines. They assist in checking documents, chops, etc., but we are responsible for choosing the applicants we want to present to our customers.
The system agencies use is broken. You can't rely on info from the training schools, videos, and biodatas provided by partners overseas. When we started Arrow we rejected this system and decided to re-invent the wheel. We established our own training and determined that we would interview every applicant before accepting them. We also set up a system that allows our customer to interview applicants at length before deciding who to hire. We also made customer service and support services a high priority. Our way of doing things is expensive, our staff costs are much higher than most agencies, but it provides our customers with some assurance that we have done our best to screen, train and support the candidates they hire.
How to set consequences when training your child
A frequent question we hear from parents is, “What should I choose as a consequence?”
Our answer is always to choose a task-specific consequence. These are the consequences that will help your child practice skills and behaviors that need improvement.
Here's a great parenting tip from Empowering Parents. Wish I'd known this stuff.
A frequent question we hear from parents is, “What should I choose as a consequence?”
Our answer is always to choose a task-specific consequence. These are the consequences that will help your child practice skills and behaviors that need improvement.
6 ways to turn a bad day into a "good day"
As Alexander in the famous children's book "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad day" can tell us - somedays it might be better to just stay in bed. The trouble is: you never know when you are going to have a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day". They just happen. When that day does happen, here are some ways to "Turn a Bad Day Around".
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
As Alexander in the famous children's book "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad day" can tell us - somedays it might be better to just stay in bed. The trouble is: you never know when you are going to have a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day". They just happen. When that day does happen, here are some ways to "Turn a Bad Day Around"*.
Shawn Achor, author of The Happiness Advantage says that “Studies show that when you’re positive, you’re 31% more productive, you’re 40% more likely to receive a promotion, you have 23% fewer health-related effects from stress, and your creativity rates triple,” Wow! I would like to be 31% more productive, have 23% fewer stress related health problems and be more creative.
So, how can we turn a bad day into a good day according to the experts?
Pinpoint the problem
Have you ever said "I'm in a bad mood"? Someone might ask you "why?" and you answer "I don't know! I just am!" Maybe your employer asks "Why do have that black expression on your face today?" Or your friend asks "What's wrong with you today?" You answer "Oh, I'm just having one of those days", but you are so busy you haven't stopped to focus on what is happening inside of your heart. We need to give ourselves an emotional check-up several times a day. If you pray before meals, this is a great time to quiet yourself and ask "How am I feeling? What's going on in my heart?" If we can catch our bad moods early, we have a better chance of turning around our day. If you find that you are upset, angry or sad try to pinpoint the cause. When did it start? What triggered these feelings? "I'm upset because my ma'am wouldn't listen to my explanation" OR "my friend won't answer my FB pm". Once you pinpoint the cause you can step back and refrain the picture: "My ma'am was late for work and didn't have time to listen to me. Lord give her a good day today." OR, "my friend probably has her phone off, is vacuuming, low bat, etc. I'll just be patient. She has a job to do too." Sometimes you might pinpoint an issue that needs addressing and you can pray and plan how to do that.
Take a moment to be thankful
Studies show that it is almost impossible to be thankful and depressed at the same time. When you find yourself experiencing negative emotions or a negative stream of thought - stop and find 3 things to be thankful for. "Lord thank you that I'm inside during this rainstorm and that the roof doesn't leak"; "thank you for this moment to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee"; "thank you for my friend Maria who sent me that funny joke this morning". You get the picture. There are plenty of things to say "thank you" for. Is your family well? kids doing ok in school? Do you have friends who support you? money in your pocket? a flush toilet? Choosing to be thankful is a great way to turn around your day.
Take action
Do something positive! Taking even a small positive action can re-boot your emotions. Something as small as making your bed, doing some push-ups or sit-ups, eating a healthy snack like an apple when you would normally eat candy, pausing to witness something beautiful, a butterfly on a flower -- these actions can change the flow of your day. Better still, are small actions done for others - a small note in your ma'am's lunchbox saying "Thank you for being a great employer! I hope you have a wonderful day today!"; a FB note to a friend saying "Just wanted you to know that your sharing last Sunday was soooo encouraging. I'm grateful for you!"
Change your routine
I can already hear you saying, "You're kidding right? My schedule is determined by my employer and every 15 minutes is accounted for. In addition to that she has cameras recording my every move. I can't stay in the CR too long without her commenting on it." I agree - parts of our lives are regulated by others: bosses, teachers, etc., still we DO control some of our time. Stopping on the way to the market to admire and take a photo of a beautiful butterfly, flower or an interesting street scene can reboot your emotions. For me an uplifting song or music video like the theme to Rocky Balboa , totally reinvigorates me.
Have realistic expectations
“Expectations can have a huge impact on mood,” says Achor. “If I expect my flight to be canceled and it’s only three hours delayed, then I’m going to be thrilled. But if I expect it to be on time and then it’s delayed, then I’m going to be upset.” This sounds like I am saying "don't have expectations" or "expect the worst". I am NOT trying to sell pessimism. We should be optimistic, but we need to also keep our feet planted firmly in reality. A realistic optimist expects life to be tough, but also looks for small graces (like a flower poking up through a crack in the concrete) and is grateful for them. If we expect our employer to be tough, then we are grateful and happy when they treat us kindly. If we expect them to be worried about the food budget, then we are thankful when they tell us to "eat more!" Have realistic expectations and
Learn from your bad days to prevent future ones
Bad days are inevitable - unhappiness is optional! When you do have a bad day, take time to review what happened and try to figure out why. If there were interpersonal conflicts, what percentage was your responsibility? What triggers set you off, made you lose your temper, started the black mood, etc.? What can you learn from this "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day". Determine what you will do in the future to lessen the impact of a "Terrible, Horrible, No good, very bad day." Write it down. I hope that all your days are fantastic and full of balloons and butterflies, but when life finally does happen, and the sky comes crashing down, take action early and turn it around.
** Adapted from an article in the Harvard Business Review entitled "How to turn a bad day around".
5 Things your helper needs to be happy at work
Filipino domestic helpers come to work in Hong Kong because they NEED money. They stay because they FEEL HAPPY in their work. If they don't feel happy in their work, no matter how much they need the money - they will sooner or later terminate the contract. Here is what they need to happy at work.
Filipino domestic helpers come to work in Hong Kong because they NEED money. They stay because they FEEL HAPPY in their work. If they don't feel happy in their work, no matter how much they need the money - they will sooner or later terminate the contract. Here is what they need to happy at work. I've adapted these from a Fortune Magazine article entitled "Research shows you need these 5 things to be happy at work".
Work that challenges you.
We're already in trouble. Domestic helpers do housework, right? Wrong! Domestic helpers are household managers who keep the family and household running well ENABLING you to perform at your peak in your job and as a spouse and parent. Would Batman be able to function without Alfred Pennyworth his butler? What would Ironman be without his artificial intelligence Jarvis? Your helper's role in your family is important. If you don't tell her how important her role is, she will think of herself as a housecleaner, a maid, only. She won't perform at her optimum level and she won't stay long term. Tell her how important her work is!
A sense of progress
We have a saying "a woman's work is never done". Housework is repetitive work and sometimes your helper feels like she is going no where in this job. She needs to know that 1) her performance is getting better and 2) the family is making progress. Every so often give her a high five, a well done! Let her know how much better organized things are now.
No fear
Too many of our employers create a climate of fear for their helpers. They frequently scold them, shout at them, and threaten to fire them. We've even had male employers say "I will kill you if anything happens to my child." Imagine if your boss regularly threatened you - how would it effect your job performance? We have a word for someone who constantly berates, criticizes and calls others names: BULLY. Create a climate of fear and your helper will leave.
Autonomy
Stephen Covey in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People tells the story of training his teenage son to take care of the lawn during the summer. He told him he could choose how to achieve the goal but the standard for the yard was "clean and green". He then defined what "clean" was and what "green" was, and then left it to his son to achieve the goal. Like all workers, helpers hate to be micro-managed. Clearly define your goals and standards, but give them some freedom in how they finish the work. I
Belonging
When a helper comes to your home she is a "stranger in a strange land". She is desparate for acceptance and hopes your family will embrace her. This is not always the case, so Arrow has created a supportive community for helpers. Our 4 week followup classes help new arrivals build relationships with each other and mature Filipino leaders. Helpers who feel a part of the families they serve are happier and more well adjusted.
Are these 5 things important to you in your job? How can you create a work environment where the work is challenging, where workers have a sense of progress, where there is no fear, autonomy is rewarded and where there is a deep sense of belonging,? Share your thoughts. Leave a comment.