[caribbeancoast]

a local macdonalds worker wagers HK$30 per hour. they have to clean, wash, clean the bathrooms, mop the floor... similar to the imported workers duties.

why the imported domestic helpers choose their employers? they choose central, western families, working couples, no kids...

so funny that all of the foreign workers ask a common question:
"excuse me madaam, what is your nationality?" if the reply is indian, they will come up with excuses or they will make an appointment but will not arrive.

next question: " how many kids, how old?" "do u work?" blah blah, sometimes i think i am the one who is being interviewed.

the agencies somehow wants me to import rather to hire locally. but the imported ones have very few with experience, i.e. will get lost while grocery shopping because imported domestic helper might not know what is park n shop or coke light. i dont want to pay everyone for the job that end up wasting more of my time.

probably i had bad luck...

btw, do they know the minimum wager in the philippines for a domestic helper is HK$330 per month? whist, here in hong kong the minimum wager is HK$3,400 per month net (they dont have to pay no levy, no taxes, no transportation, no food, no rent)

awaiting for suggestions and comments.

[Mat]

What's your point?

[KnowItAll]

>> if the reply is indian, they will come up with excuses or
>> they will make an appointment but will not arrive.

Well known amongst the Indian community that this sort of behavior exists.

Anyways .. the bottom line is .. supply and demand. There isnt enough supply of local english speaking help that will iron clothes and clean toilets for $60 per hour.

[Khrest]

Go legal and try finding one through the Employees Retraining Board http://www.erb.org/

Depending on how many hours a week you require their services, you could be paying them under $50 an hour. You could also put in a request for a helper which is fluent in English.

Don't know how easy it will be to find one if you live on Lantau (especially if you live in DB), but here on HK island, it's no problem.

[Sleuth]

[quote=KnowItAll; There isnt enough supply of local english speaking help that will iron clothes and clean toilets for $60 per hour.[/QUOTE]

Would you?

[KnowItAll]

Nah .. but then I'd also not be doing the same job at McDonalds for $30-40 / hour where only Cantonese is a requirement.

[Sleuth]

Me either, which is the point. I am glad these people are willing to do this for $60/hour in the same way I am glad people volunteer to be US Marines. That way I am not asked to do either.
So $60/hour is cheap. And you could maybe find someone at $50/hour, but we are talking saving US$1.25/hour. Doesn't seem to be worth the hassle.
Our pt DH charges the $60 and is worth every penny. I know a couple other people with pt DH and the rate seems to be consistent. Must be a union thing.

[KnowItAll]

Not a union thing .. HK$ 60 is the market rate for part time help. 15 years ago, I was paying $50 / hour.

[Sleuth]

Just joking. Didn't really think there was a pt DH union.

[caribbeancoast]

the problem is not HK$60 but the quality of job provided. some illegal pt dh steals! others dont know how to iron or clean and some are slow who rans up five hours bearly vacumm not yet mopped the floor.

the choosing employers problem was among the philippinas, now its expanding over to the indonesians who stayed at least two contracts.

yes there is a problem for english supplies of legal helpers.

if anyone is to make the money, then they should do their job properly and without discrimination.