Letters | This Mother’s Day, let’s honour Hong Kong’s domestic workers
- Readers discuss the shared joy of motherhood, the inspiration that drives girls to fulfil their potential, and disappointment in one of Hong Kong’s most iconic tourist landmarks
This Mother’s Day, I wish to celebrate a special mother. She’s none other than our migrant domestic worker, Yeye, who just gave birth to a healthy baby boy two weeks ago here in Hong Kong. With our family’s support, the care our Aunty Yeye received during her pregnancy was thorough, world-class and without prejudice; although a few eyebrows were raised when I jumped around the room when the sonographer said she was having a boy!
It was Yeye’s first pregnancy in Hong Kong and also our first as employers, so we have indeed been on the journey together. We supported Yeye through every stage of her pregnancy, guided her through her next steps and facilitated her antenatal appointments. We attended some appointments with her as an extra layer of support when her husband could not do so.
This was in contrast to her last pregnancy in the Philippines 19 years ago. It did not involve medical support and the birth was at home with the local midwife in a small village. Her family was too poor to afford care and nutritious food.
Respecting Yeye’s physical limitations as the pregnancy progressed, we made the necessary adjustments to her working day. But every day without fail, she fulfilled her work responsibilities. She also arranged the household chores around her appointments, never once letting us down.