Maybe Jane Ma has not tried to employ a Filipino domestic helper recently ('Rosy picture of helpers' lives is far removed from reality', May 19). Well I have and believe me it is more like the domestic helpers comes to your house to give you an interview and not the other way around.
Our domestic helper who had worked with us for around 10 years left two months ago. We paid her all the money due to her plus one month extra.
When we started looking for our new helper my wife would arrange to pick them up at the MTR station and drive them back to our house so at least they would know their working environment.
We offer our domestic helper a basic wage of HK$4,500 per month plus food and a nice room in the house. Some of the helpers we interviewed looked disinterested so I do not even know why they came for the interview in the first place. A few even told us that they don't mind working in a 500 sq ft apartment as long as it is downtown and not in Clear Water Bay. They told us that they don't mind being paid the minimum wage and sharing a room with children.
When you are looking for a domestic helper, go to the asiaxpat.com website and you will find as I did many helpers looking for new employers. You will realise that, contrary to what has been claimed, they do have a choice.
It is about time the Immigration Department clamped down hard on domestic helpers working part time outside for higher wages and blatantly breaking the law by advertising their services on noticeboards at supermarkets around Hong Kong.
