Domestic Help

Engaging foreign help for domestic services is beginning to look like a cultural norm nowadays. Almost everyone has somewhat to a certain degree engaged themselves in this type of service, the difference being only if it was on a temporary or permanent basis. I for one engage an hourly maid who helps me to thoroughly clean up my house on a monthly basis while I have a permanent maid that helps looks after my grandmother at her place. 

I've been told many times that I do not know how to treat these individuals who help me out and I'm too lenient as an employer. For me, it's very simple, I engage you for your services and therefore pay for the service rendered. I see it as a business transaction. It's like when you go for a hair cut, you get your hair cut and pay for it, period. This is how I always saw the engagement of domestic helpers to help elevate the household burden.

Yesterday, whilst I was having dinner with my godmother and her family, I was just observing how my godmother's sister-in-law was treating and talking to the maid. I just feel that it is very wrong. For one, the bitch scolded her maid when she (the maid) went to perform her evening prayers. I was like, what the fuck?! What kind of a person, who prays herself, restricts another person from praying? As ignorant as I may be, but I'm very sure there isn't a religion out there that condones this act. 

Later, she made the maid to handle pork as well. Though this is very highly debatable, but I still stand by that it isn't an appropriate action as it involves religion. I wouldn't be really bothered if it's a personal thing, but since it involves religious teachings, I don't think its appropriate. It would be a different story if the maid doesn't mind doing it, but in this instance, it was very clear from her facial expression that she wasn't happy doing it.

 Like for me, when I got my maid, I did put everything on the table for her and asked her if she was okay and acceptable. She told me that she was okay as long as not forced to consume pork and that got things well and easy for both parties.

This bitch was also so verbally abusive towards the maid. I mean, give her a break. She had to cater to so many people and almost everyone was calling for her to get them one thing or another at any given point of time. And increase their voices everytime she doesn't get back to them on time. Be realistic, she is also human and catering to so many people would definitely whack her physically. 

And the worst, the maid had to sit in a corner on the floor of the kitchen and eat. I just found that to be totally not acceptable.

What I witnessed last night was bothering me so much. I guess it disturbed me that much that it was actually being shown on my face that my godmother sense something wasn't right and asked me what was bothering. I just didn't know if I should have told her or not but decided to make it more generalized.

I could never bring myself to treating anyone in that manner. Even if it's someone that I really hate, I would still not be able to treat someone like that. Having a maid for me is like getting an extra hand, it does not in any way say that I own the person; thus enabling me to dictate. 

It is wrong, just so wrong!