Needing help with HK salary!!

[Minet]

If this $7,000hk wage is seen as low, how much should an Australian expect for 9 hours work per day, 5 days per week (with accommodation and food included)?

What would seem more reasonable, could you give me a figure? I have never been to Hong Kong before so I can't really grasp how far the money will take me or what I should expect.

Thanks for the responses!!

[gilleshk]

It's actually not that low and almost double the pay that the maids get in HK. Young teachers only make in the low 20's in some of the schools, even less in language schools with no food or accommodation provided. The problem lies in getting a proper work visa which would protect your rights. Never mind the fact that it's illegal, that in itself is not a huge problem. The bigger concern would be to work for someone without any protection whatsoever, that's a lot of trust to put on people unless you know them very well.

Imagine they suddenly want you to work 15 hours/day with no days off or they hold your pay/passport. You get injured and have a big hospital bill. It's hard to go to the authorities when you're illegal.

The domestic workers in HK get sorely abused very often, not allowed to go out of the house except on days off. Even then, they have curfews, some families won't give days off and many of the maids go along because they don't want to get fired and be sent back to their home countries and employers know that and abuse them all the time. It's barely a notch above slavery...

Of course, there are nice families but I would be very, very concerned if I were you unless you know them very well.

[Load Toad]

Your 'employer' should be a bit more switched on than they sound; encouraging people to break the law isn't something to be proud of.

[Minet]

Sure, I have now discussed this with them and they are looking into it with me. I will not work without a visa! Thank you gilleshk for your post.

I am not afraid to speak up so I'm not worried about problems arising and never would I hand over my passport. I have sufficient funds to take care of myself reasonably well if need be (without working). This is another reason a visa is important so as I will be protected in these types of situations so that I have the ability to find other work (the family appear to be very sweet so I doubt this will be the case at all).

I was just wanting to know if ppl think I should negotiate this seeing as though it isn't a great deal for working full time hrs. I understand that filipinas work for less yet I am coming from Australia with native english so I was thinking there would be a big difference for me...

[Load Toad]

how much should an Australian expect for 9 hours work per day, 5 days per week

An Australian that works that much? Can not be lah.

[carang]

a PROPER nanny with credentials can charge up to $30,000/month.

i would check out places like rent-a-mum to see how they go about hiring. i would NOT, personally, do anything illegal. chances are slim that you get caught, but if you do you're in trouble.

good luck!

[Minet]

Cheers Carang, it should all turn out for the best I'm sure ... Load Toad what does lah mean?

[Load Toad]

It's a tag ending to add emphasis lor. Or not - depending how it's said.

[PDLM]

I reckon $7,000 plus food and accommodation is equivalent to about $18,000 without (say $3K for food, $8K for accommodation) so the wage is pretty similar to what a newly qualified low experience English language teacher would get. And you are on a 5 day week rather than the 6 day which many EFL teachers do.

So I don't think you've got much leverage on the salary. The big issue, as gilles has expounded, is the illegality of it all.

[Minet]

haha Loan Toad, we aren't all lazy jumping around on kangaroos.

Thanks for putting things into perspective PDLM, it is good that the hassle of food is taken care of and also the accommodation on offer is quite lovely. I'm becoming excited to see Hong Kong. One last question, which vaccinations would you all suggest? I will be seeing my doctor next month, but I'm just wanting a heads up.