Filipino Maids – Why Filipino Maids Prefer Western employers

by Alice Sy on January 4, 2010

A huge number of filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong usually call our employment agency and ask if we have Western employers available. What is it that filipino domestic helpers prefer Western employers instead of Chinese employers ?

As an employment agency catering to both local and international market, we often receive inquiries from Western employers who are in need of domestic help from time to time as a result of our internet marketing using Google Adwords campaign.

Out of my curiousity, I often ask why filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong prefer to work with Western employers rather than Chinese employers. It is interesting to note that the former tends to be more understanding and are willing to pay higher than the minimum salary set by the Hong Kong government.

There are four major areas where Western employers show an edge over the Chinese employers in terms of their treatment of Filipina domestic helpers. They are atmosphere of work environment, consideration, socio-psychological distance and personal space. This study has been conducted by Chinese University of Hong Kong on how maids in Hong Kong are treated by their employers.

The data were based on in-depth and structured interviews of Filipino helpers who have served both types of employers. A few Western and Chinese employers were also interviewed.

The results of the study indicate that the Filipino maids, in general, are more satisfied with their Western employers, who tend to provide them with easier and more comfortable work environment, over their Chinese employers. Their Western employers are also more considerate and are more likely to treat them equally, allowing them more personal space.

With the treatment of Filipino maids, homogeneity of expectations, attitudes and actions is also a trait of Western employers, as the study shows. Unlike the Chinese employers who are more detailed in expectations and diversified, Western employers tend to concentrate, generally, on the positive side. To sum it up, Filipino maids are more likely to know what Western employers are expecting of them and how they would be treated versus the Chinese whose treatment would greatly vary from one employer to the other.

Before hiring your domestic helper, make sure you visit the top domestic helper agency Hong Kong for free profiles and photos of qualified English speaking applicants and contact us for the fastest way to hire your next Filipina maid, nanny, housekeeper, driver or gardener.

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