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Indonesian maids working in Hong Kong lured by Islamic State recruiters: report

15 Comments
By DALE de la REY

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15 Comments
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but HK hasn't bombed IS so I thing nothing will happen.

Sweden didn't bomb IS but they saw something happen in the shape of a speeding truck hitting its civilians in Stockholm.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Maids? Nannies? Domestic helps?

1st world problems. Not for the help, though. With all the abuse that goes on.

"But some joined ISIS as a path to empowerment."

How nightmarish must it be, though, to join up with that cult of headbangers?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Haha, get a clue. EVERYONE middle class and above in HK has a maid.

Yes, and I'm talking about most of them. Absolutely deplorable human beings that employ these domestic workers at close to slave wages merely to be status symbols. It's ridiculous that anyone living in a small apartment in a compact city should have a live in domestic helper stuffed into a broom closet when people in America with 5,000 square foot suburban homes, pools and gardens seem to survive just fine without full time help.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

if domestic help in Japan was as readily available as in HK, I wouldnt think twice about hiring one.

Domestic help is readily available here in Japan, just not at the sort of prices you are willing to pay.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Maids? Nannies? Domestic helps?

1st world problems. Not for the help, though. With all the abuse that goes on.

No. It is a cultural choice mainly in Asia. NOT all 1st world countries.

Canadians and Americans generally don't have maids or any live-in help. Don't believe what you see on TV, that is just the 1%'ers. Same for Europeans and people in central America (which has lots of "middle-class" people, BTW. Some people might have a maid service come in weekly or monthly. About 5% of busy professionals will do this in the USA, from what I've seen.

OTOH, where there is lots and lots of human labor available cheaply, the live-in maid is extremely common. These domestic servants do that because they need to feed their families and because of life's circumstances, not because they aren't smart or kind, or good people.

Ever been to India? Is that a 1st world country? There, because they have so much cheap labor, any family lower-middle-class and above will probably have 2+ maids, cooks, gardeners, perhaps a guy to wash the car. Cheap labor is available and if the middle-class don't use them, the domestic help will have a much harder life. Yep, it is an Asian thing as far as I can tell.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

This is really a time bomb, many muslims just cant adopt themselves with western lifestyle or just pure hatred to non Islamic cultures while they were going to make a living work on foreign soil!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The types of people who employ these domestic helpers are often more brutal, oppressive and exploitative than ISIS. If I had to choose between joining ISIS or becoming a domestic helper in Hong Kong, I would definitely have a seriously look at the ISIS brochure.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Just cut their employment if suspected... they can go back to Malay and enjoy fun and free ISIS life...tons of maids are available to chose from..

And the guy who has problem with hiring maids.. I am sorry you dont understand the concept of domestic help.. but normal family with kids or both partners working needs maid help... if domestic help in Japan was as readily available as in HK, I wouldnt think twice about hiring one.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

M3+ , exactly and not just at high prices, also quite unreliable and low level service.. the couple times I did hire a cleaner .. I can do a better job myself at half of the time.

its all comes down at how much free time you have and how much your time is valued.

It is financially sound to hire someone that will clean your house while you are at work if your work is valuable and your free time is little and precious, which is obviously not the case with you.

Many people in EU, especially both working professionals that value clean house have a cleaning service / maid weekly.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

M3M3M3

The "types of people who employ domestic helpers?" Haha, get a clue. EVERYONE middle class and above in HK has a maid.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

The "types of people who employ domestic helpers?" Haha, get a clue. EVERYONE middle class and above in HK has a maid.

In Hong Kong & Singapore its quite difficult for families with children not to have a maid.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Absolutely deplorable human beings that employ these domestic workers at close to slave wages merely to be status symbols. 

Yup...all those sick Western expats exploiting Asian domestic workers.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

In Hong Kong & Singapore its quite difficult for families with children not to have a maid.

I think that's largely a chicken and egg problem. When the government allows for the widespread exploitation of cheap foreign maids to provide childcare, it inevitably makes it less likely that private or public providers of daycare facilities, preschools, and afterschool programs/clubs will step in to fill that demand. When the answer to childcare is to get a maid, it also becomes less likely that politicians will feel the pressure to extend maternity or parental leave or introduce flexible hours and other rights for working parents. These are the invisible costs that societies pay when they allow this sort of quick fix.

The sad irony is that many of these women leave behind their own children and don't see them for years at a time. Unlike these unscrupulous employers, I believe ISIS allows you to bring your kids with you when you sign up. Perhaps that's the appeal for some.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Goodluck, I think you misunderstand militant islamists like daesh; everyone is their enemy, including godless capitalists in HK. and yes, I would keep an eye on the philippina maids, so hopefully increased surveillance and the new kyoubouzai law can help us stay safe.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

There are a lot of philippino maids there too. Does that make all maids suspicious? HK needs the cheap labor so just accept something might happen, but HK hasn't bombed IS so I thing nothing will happen.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

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