I am distressed by the attitude of David Hui (South China Morning Post, January 21) and other correspondents towards the issue of domestic helpers' salaries.
I am one of the many Hong Kong residents who has taken a pay cut this year. I accept and understand it, because in the good times I have received salary increases and bonuses.
However, domestic helpers don't seem to get to share in these boom times.
I do not recall seeing many letters in these columns in 1999 and 2000, suggesting an increase of helpers' minimum wage. And yet in those years the economy was doing well.
Mr Hui and others should face reality. In almost every other country people must pay real wages for domestic help and nannies whereas in Hong Kong, because of a favourable exchange rate with the Philippines, domestics are willing to work for low wages.
Do Hong Kong people not understand that if you want the person you entrust with the care of your children to be happy and motivated, cutting their wages further is not a great way to achieve this?
