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.

Based on the study, it has been found that Western employers tend to provide their filipino domestic helpers with easier and comfortable work environment. Western employers were found to be more considerate and are more likely to treat their domestic helpers equally and allow them more personal space, thus giving the helpers more work satisfaction.

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.