Work At Home Resources

Filipino Maids HK - Why Filipino Maids Prefer Western Employers

Many Filipino maids looking for job opportunities in Hong Kong would usually inquire from our agency if we have Western employers available. Why do Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong prefer Western 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.

A study has been conducted by Chinese University of Hong Kong on how maids in Hong Kong are treated by their employers. Comparisons between Western and Chinese employers on their treatment of Filipina helpers are done in consideration of four major areas namely atmosphere of work environment, consideration, socio-psychological distance and personal space.

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.

Western employers are more homogeneous in terms of variations in treatment of filipino domestic helpers and also tend to concentrate on the positive side while Chinese employers are more diversified. As a summary, filipino domestic helpers are more likely to know what Western employers are expecting of them and how they would be treated versus the Chinese employers where treatment usually vary from one employer to the other.