HLN reaction
NEWS
A survey of nearly 1,400 domestic helpers shows that 80% of them have noticed a change in their clients’ behaviour. This is an important signal from our domestic helpers.
You can read the full article in HLN.
Managing Director Steve Vandenberghe responded as follows:
The many employers I have spoken to over the past few months have also mentioned this. It is a shared concern. We must not bury our heads in the sand. Everyone in the sector will need to think pragmatically. We must do everything we can to ensure it remains workable for our domestic workers and healthy for the sector. Otherwise, things will go even further downhill.
And, as both our domestic helpers and the agencies say, it remains a brilliant system for the user. Our agencies, staff and domestic helpers do incredibly valuable work. And they still do so at a very fair price, given the total cost and the full organisation required.
Of course, we’ve all been thoroughly spoiled over the past 20 years because previous ministers never did what was necessary: allowing prices to rise in line with the index. The shock effect is now putting even more pressure on the situation. That could have been avoided.
In any case, we must move forward. Kris Vanautgaerden is right about what he said on Radio 1. We’ll have to do this together. So that we can indeed secure the future of our sector. And that will only work if it’s a fair solution for everyone.
There’s work to be done!
Steve Vandenberghe
Managing Director Domiva