Agency fees paid by helper?

G

Gracey

Registered User
It seemed like all was going well with our helper application. We found someone we really liked and signed the contract in April. Her papers sailed through the Philippine Consulate and are in HKID's hands. We are expecting her by the end of June.
I called up the agency to ask how her case was going. They said there was a small delay because she hadn't shown up for her medical exam. The helpful agency people said sometimes helpers do this because they don't have the cash to pay the agent's fee and feel ashamed. Sometimes, they are in debt and it's not even their fault -- they take out loans for other poor family members, etc, or get fleeced by second-rate banks preying on helpers.
Huh.
We chose this agency because we were told they do not have abusively high fees. They said they charged about HK 8,000-10,000 -- but that many other agencies charge double.
Wow. That's about 3 months salary for a helper.
Why do they have to pay such high fees? While the much-richer people who hired them pay low fees?
Doesn't this make them, essentially, indentured servants for the first few months of their employment?
I've asked the agency to sort it out. If she's really having some sort of financial problem, I'd rather know sooner than later.
What would you guys do?
 
fyi if things are going well with the helper, some employers after a couple of months pay off the debt with the agency entirely making sure the money they makes all goes to her. it amazes me how much the agencies charge the helper when they make so little to begin with....I also assume most helpers have financial difficulties because of the line of work they are in...we paid of our helper's medical check-up.
 
I'm using an agent that doesn't charge fees from helpers in Philippines except they have to pay for medical and training there , which I was told is required by the phl govt. That costs about 800-1000 hkd. Though this agent only process paperwork and not do introductions.
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I am in the same boat as Biggie. I'm hiring a domestic helper out of the Philippines thru other means of referral (not thru agency). If the agency is not doing the job placement for the helper, then the fees are much cheaper. My current helper was telling me it was about 20,000 pesos for paperwork processing only versus 80,000 pesos for job placement.
 
I have done 2 direct hires (through referrals from other helpers) and we had to use an agency. But the agency didn't charge the helpers a cent. I told the helpers to let me know if the agency in Manila asked them for any money, because I was already paying for all the processing in HK. I think I paid $3200 here.
 
same as rani 2 direct hires through an agency...they didn't charge helper anything (though helpers must pay for their own medical - which according to my helper now is around HK200...not that expensive even to my helper she says as that is the only form of payment she needs to make) the whole processing cost 3200 + 2000 for insurance (but I believe you can purchase insurance elsewhere and not necessarily with the agency.
 
We used Jocie James (in Central, on Pottinger St) on the recommendation of our helper when we hired her. The agency is run by their fellow countrymen and I'm told they don't fleece the helpers the way some of the local agencies do.
 
Btw, i was told by multiple agencies that if it's the first time she works in hk then helper need to attend and pay for a training program in Phil.
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yes - i use Emry's too - they have various locations...wanchai, central (apart from worldwide)..haven't had any problems with them - they are owned by Chinese but day to day staff appear to be philippine ladies so they can talk directly in tagalog...nothing is lost in translation.
 
I've used Emry's twice. The first time they were good. The second time they were very slow and very inflexible and I kept having to call them all the time and chase them. I think Emry's is only as good as the individual employee who is handling the file. The second time I was hiring back a helper who had previously been employed by our family. Emry's insisted that she take a medical even though I said that I did not require it. After the medical, she was required to pay extra to get glasses and have her teeth fixed.
 
Hi everyone, Thanks for all your advice.
I wasn't trying to be critical of the agency. So far they have been honest and upfront, both about their own charges and some problems with other agencies. Plus, she is a "new girl" for them, and went through a one-week training course and medical check.
When I asked why fees were so high, I didn't mean for this particular company -- just in general.
Anyway... it's not that I'm unhappy with the agency. I'm glad they are so forthright. I'm just wondering what happens if the amah can't pay her share? Does she owe the agency later? If so, it probably wouldn't take her more than 3 months, since we are paying her extra for all sorts of stuff, like food, transport, etc,
As nice as I am, I don't want to pay the amah's share outright, since it is technically not my responsibility.
 
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