Employers help their domestic helpers in times of need
Domestic helpers make many sacrifices to work in Hong Kong, and some employers are happy to support them in their hour of need, writes Mabel Sieh
For Jacqueline Sun, Zenaida Cabello is much more than just the Filipino helper who took care of her from the age of four. "She is part of my history and my family," she says.
"When I was a child, Zenaida took me to school, piano lessons and grocery shopping. We had lunch together; we played together in her room. She was there when I learned to ride my bike, and when I got married. She's a comforting figure and a part of my life," says Sun, who has two daughters of her own.
Her parents were busy civil servants, so Cabello looked after Sun and her brother until they left for boarding school overseas as teenagers. Now, she looks after Sun's children - which means she has worked for the family for almost 30 years.
My children cried when they saw me. We all cried. My family was saved
Cabello remembers the joyful day Sun got married. "She bought me a nice dress and sat me in the front row. Watching her [wed], I was overwhelmed with emotion. She is very special to me, and I know I am special to her," the 61-year-old says.
Sadly, some helpers have had dreadful work experiences and Sun is aghast at the reports of abuse, such as the case of Indonesian maid Erwiana Sulistyaningsih, who was allegedly beaten by her employer.
"Even when I was a student, we learned about compassion and how to put ourselves in other people's shoes. These helpers have to leave their families and children behind to take care of ours. It's not easy for them, and I do feel for them."
That sense of compassion has helped to forge a warm relationship with Cabello. It also prompted her to come to the assistance of her second helper, Gina Ladrera.