Helpers prefer not to work for Indian families???

Wow... Your agent seems a bit racist. My hubby's colleagues are Indian by ethnic and way of living. I don't see they have any problems. But you are so right..... Helpers here expect you to behave like most westerners which is to say giving them the easiest method to do. Washing machine, dish washer and other gadgets. I have to say don't be disheartened. There are so many stories about domestic helpers here. It was way so much different from Singapore. Sorry, I am an Indo who had been living in SG previously. The helpers in Singapore are humbler than those who are working here. :)
Anyway, I am also getting a helper since we are expecting our first baby. I've just started my life in HK. It was a culture shock to see how the helpers here behave. I got a help from a friend who is an agent. Thus, we are getting my helper from Indo to help us out. Message me if you need more details :)
 
Yes, have heard this through friends who have been told this by agents (or agencies). It might be an urban legend or as biases go it might have become firm in helpers' community. A few bad stories go a long way in establishing these biases. Having said that - these agents might just be ones working with expat families.We are Indian origin and from India and see a whole range of behavior at both employers' and helpers' end. This kind of generalization is absurd.

Would suggest try other agents and better still try direct referrals. All the best.
 
Yes, most people (including us) have got good helpers. Touchwood. Some of us went through asiaexpat / amah.net, others through different agencies, referrals etc. There are lot of good employers and helpers out there. This is very similar to the bias that Phillipino helpers are pricey or rude etc but I swear by mine :)

Well - about system bias; it does exist to certain extent. Having said that I do know of two or three actual cases (one of helper forging cheques, one with employer-helper altercation, one in which employer was underpaying) - and the police was fair. The helper forging cheque got a jail sentence after full investigation; the altercation was amicably resolved with police taking neither side and the employer who was underpaying had to pay up the balance and got a rap (and fairly so).These stories are over a period on seven years though and by no way I mean that indian community has too many of such cases :)

Biases do exist but very honestly the system is overall quite fair. And as in all employer-employee relationships sound paper work helps - like transfer salary into bank acct, take receipts, have decent workng hours etc. Personally - i would just ditch the agents who have this bias and look beyond.
 
it isn't just indians.... i had some helpers tell me point blank on the phone that they only wanted western employers, so weren't interested. i am a white english-speaking canadian, but my husband is local chinese.
 
Our helper also told this to me when he joined us that her friends have warned her she will have a tough time as she is going to work for an Indian family. But now, after being with for almost an year, she says she is very lucky to have such employers.
This is a mindset with most of the experienced helpers here. They do not want Asian, ESP south-east Asian employers, should not be more than one baby/ kid, madam should be working etc.
you need to explain it to them that this is not about race/ nationality. Different people/households have different working conditions, and most importantly, you need to explain it to them that you are not looking for slaves or any kind of labour. You are just looking for an educated and responsible individual to e your helper in your home.
Good luck with your search.
 
The agency we used never had any such biases. And are good with follow ups as well. Please let me know if you need their details.
 
I'm Indian and I think there might be some reason why helpers have this impression. The younger Indian couples might be different, but the larger, more traditional families probably have the same attitude to helpers as the Indians back home. And I think they probably do get a better deal with Westerners, in terms of perks and living conditions.

That said, I know a lot of young Indian families here who have helpers and both employers and employees are happy. I employ two Filipino helpers myself and we get on very well. I employed my first helper though word-of-mouth and then when I had my second child we brought her sister over.

I did try a few agencies and none of them ever said anything to me like that. In fact, they provided lots of prospects. It does seem like this guy is not that interested in helping you. I'd ditch the agency and find another one. I also tried directly contacting helpers through the classifieds on this site and another one and while there were a couple who I thought were not interested because of my ethnicity, there were interested ones too.
 
Hi justarlene and shwetakhanna

please can you send me the details of the agencies you used? especially for an indonesian helper

Thanks a lot
 
We have a reputation for overworking our helpers. We hired a new helper last year and it took me a while too. Our fav helper stayed with us for 5 years and left us to get married to her BF in the US. She still calls us regularly.

Since then have had 2 helpers who weren't the right fit for our family. Last year, I searched again, and placed ads on GeoExpat.Com. Interviewed several and finally found a FAB helper. Even after she signed with us, her friends did try and persuade her to change her mind. But she liked us instantly and we her and we're all very happy. There are some gems out there, who don't have any issues working with Indians.
 
No, it didn't feel like walking on eggshells at all. While there are some helpers who have this bias, there are plenty who would be happy to have a job. I'd assume that those who sign a contract with you are coming to the job with an open mind. I think your agent has over-emphasized this point to you, probably because of his own bias.
 
But there is definitely a difference between the culture of domestic staff between westerners and Indians. In India there is still a very strong tradition of domestic help, sometimes in good conditions and sometime fairly horrific ones (young girls being sold to families basically as indentured domestic servants, what would have previously been called slaves). In Europe, for example, the idea of employing domestic help is seen an an incredible luxury, and I suspect there is really a difference in the way helpers are treated, in many cases. My two former helpers had pretty horrific stories about their (Indian) ex-employers.
 
This sounds like the agent is biased, not necessarily the helpers he/she represents. Is the agent local Chinese? There are alot of biases against Indians and other ethnic minorities in HK. (I say that, a bit shame-faced, as a local myself. I don't hold those views, but I know others who do). That said, there are also agents who will badmouth mainlanders or other groups -- just alot of stereotyping.

And sometimes that trickles down to helpers, who are so terrified that they will be mistreated or underpaid here. And many of them have never worked in a multicultural city like HK before.

I think most helpers just want a decent employer regardless of skin color. My Filipina helper's friend loves her Indian employers, who are strictly vegetarian. That's why she gets a food allowance, cooks her own food, and also has long lunch breaks. My neighbors are Indian, too, and they seem to get along just fine with their helper.

I've gotten 2 great helpers over the years from Arrow Agency, run by two Americans in Kowloon. They would never say anything like that. They're decent folk who seem to personally know the women they represnt - maybe not the cheapest in town. But when you are hiring someone to be in your home all day, you want to spend a little more to make sure things go well.

Arrow Employment Services

Ask for Allan or Ione, a husband and wife team. Their great assistant is named Swannie.

Good luck! And remember that, while there are some bad apples in HK (particularly helper and property agents) most people are pretty decent here.
 
Planning to have someone start in Sept is very smart. First of all, some babies come early. Also, in my experience, you'll need a bit more hand when you are 8, 9-months pregnant, especially in this heat. I'm also pretty independent, and used to doing my own housework and running my own groceries. But the end of pregnancy is tough. Plus, you don't want to have to get used to a new helper and a new baby at the same time.

If you want someone to start in Sept, start now. If you're hiring directly from the Philippines, you will need to wait for both HK Immigration and the Philippine side to approve papers. They say it takes 4-6 weeks. But the reality is that doesn't count weekends, public holidays from both countries and random delays like Philippine elections. And it doesn't count the time you need to actually meet the agent, do interviews, choose someone you like, etc. I'd say it actually takes 2 months.
 
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