That said, all maids (a term many dislike) are different. Being people, some clearly enjoy the job more than others. Some are treated as members of the family; others become the victims of appalling treatment and abuse.
While in many parts of the world maids remain the preserve of the wealthy, in parts of Asia and the Middle East relatively rates of low pay make live-in home help an affordable option for average-earning households.
For their part, most helpers, as they’re known, have the single aim of earning more money than they could at home, to send back when, and if, they can.
Who are they?
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Typically small Hong Kong flats make it difficult to put any distance between work and their private lives.
While stories of exploitation are relatively common, not every employer treats his or her helper as a modern-day slave. Pay, hours, duties, rest times and holidays are negotiated and respected.
However, campaigners point out that domestic workers come to the table with few bargaining chips — and in many cases huge agency debts — so tougher legislation is needed to protect them from unscrupulous agencies and employers.
