Welcome to “The Help”, a series brought to you in partnership with HK Helpers Campaign and Mission for Migrant Workers. These stories come directly from some of Hong Kong’s 320,000 foreign domestic workers. Everyone deserves a voice.
Kanthi Tinayungan, Aged 30, From Surabaya, Indonesia
I came to Hong Kong to support my three children and my parents. Because my husband earns a low salary working as a driver in Indonesia, I work to provide my children with an opportunity to get a better education. I also want to help my parents because my father suffered a stroke.
Being apart from my family is very hard, and I’ve only seen them for four weeks over the past three years. I hope that they will have good hearts, be well educated, and always remember me. I miss them a lot.
When I get my full salary I send half home and keep half. I would eat the food the employer gave me and could never buy anything for myself.
For each employer I had a holiday every Sunday, but I still had to wake up early to do housework before I left. When I come back at night, I still need to do work before I go to sleep.
My first two employers were good. The third employer was not so nice.
I looked after their two children, a three-year-old and a one-year-old. I had to share a room with the father and the baby while the mother slept in another room with the other child.
I don’t know why he chose to sleep in my room. He said it was to look after the baby, but there was already a camera in the room facing the baby. I was uncomfortable sleeping in that room with him. He never tried anything, but I still felt uncomfortable.
After working for my third employer for a month, I was hospitalised for vertigo and gastroenteritis. When I was discharged from the hospital the agency picked me up and took me to their office. The staff told me my employer terminated my contract because they were concerned about my health.
I didn’t understand because my sickness was not serious and when I recovered I could start working again, but my employer still said no.
There are ways that the Hong Kong government could improve the situation of the helpers here. They could allow helpers to live in their own accommodation, because living 24 hours every day with one family is very hard.
There should also be more regulations concerning the agencies because they control your passport and contract. When your contract is terminated, they don’t help you find a new one.
I’ve filed a case with the labour department against my last employer and it is still pending. Now that I’ve come to Bethune House I know what my rights are and how to face my case.
When my case is over I will go back home to take care of my children and try to find work in Indonesia. Maybe I can open a small store.
If you are a foreign domestic helper living in Hong Kong and want to tell your story, good or bad, contact us at hongkong@coconuts.co.
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