THERE should be more regulations covering the domestic service industry to ensure the rights of domestic helpers and families, former vice chairman of the city s domestic services association Meng Jun said Monday.
Meng suggested the establishment of a union where domestic service agencies and companies could share information and references of maids, particularly records of misconduct, helping families to avoid hiring maids who might harm them, yesterday s Southern Metropolis Daily reported.
Meng raised the suggestion after weekend media reports of the kidnap of a baby by a maid from where she worked in Nanshan District. She had demanded 500,000 yuan (US$75,953).
Meanwhile, a maid who claimed to have been beaten by her employer because their child had accidentally hurt himself at home in Futian District on Saturday did not know where to complain and apply for medical compensation.
There are no relevant departments to administer the industry and the association has been busy with elections. Without effective control and supervision, similar cases will continue to happen, which is not good for families or maids, Meng said.
According to industry regulations, domestic service companies should confirm the identities of maids with the police department, but many companies ignored the rule, particularly when there was a shortage of maids.
Many employers don t know anything about their maids and are always nervous about what they might do. Meanwhile, maids safety and rights are also difficult to protect because there is no organization to help them, the association vice chairman Guo said.
(Wang Yuanyuan)
