I learned from the news last week that Singapore, also a major importer of domestic helpers, has seen demand for Indonesian maids edging up because they are paid less than maids from the Philippines.
What struck me is the huge difference between what Hong Kong and Singapore employers pay.
The average wage for Indonesian maids in Singapore is S$230, for Filipinos $330. The report said many Singapore employers hence save S$100 by switching to Indonesians to take care of older kids.
What Hong Kong employers have to pay is equivalent to S$815 (or S$700 after October, when there is a tax levy). As 'rich' as Hong Kong people are, we are paying 3.5 times more than our neighbours.
Hong Kong wives must work to pay off the negative-equity mortgages, so we have to hire maids to take care of the kids, but not at such ridiculously high wages. Singapore people must laugh at Hong Kong people, at the Hong Kong government and its policies.
With the peso depreciated by as much as 40 per cent, Philippine maids - when remitting the full Hong Kong salary to their home country - enjoy spending power there equivalent to a Hong Kong salary earner being paid $50,000.
