LettersAccusing Hong Kong’s domestic workers of ‘job-hopping’ ignores their struggles
- Readers discuss accusations of ‘job-hopping’ directed at migrant domestic workers, and steps to improve fire safety awareness
I arrived in Hong Kong from the Philippines in 2007 to work as a domestic worker. Most of my duties involve caring for the elderly. In my free time, I am a unionist and advocate for worker and LGBTQ rights.
Over these 17 years, I was rejected by employers four times because of my gender expression. I also terminated my contract twice because my health had deteriorated due to long working hours. I was working from 5am to 11pm and on call for 24 hours.
I have major family responsibilities. I spend my food allowance carefully because my salary is not enough to support the needs of my parents and three siblings, two of whom are in university. My family and I suffered when I broke my contract as I needed to exit Hong Kong and wait for a work visa in my country. I had no income for two months.
Everyone should be allowed to seek better working conditions and wages. If we are treated well by our employers, why would we quit our jobs knowing that we would lose income when we go back to our place of origin to wait for our visa and that unscrupulous employment agencies would take advantage of us and make us pay illegal fees?
Moreover, some employers frequently terminate workers; some employment agencies even offer employers a “buy one, take one” deal which encourages them to change workers. This February, my union assisted two workers who only worked 10-15 days and were terminated by their employer. When employers do this, nothing much is made of it.