Hiring an Ayi - ethically sound?

A friend of Ray's (my US flatmate) apparently was appalled to hear that we had hired an ayi.  Our ayi helps with domestic chores including washing, ironing, groceries and cooking in the flat for the 3 of us.  She comes for 3 hours a day at 7 kuai an hour, 6 days a week, and we pay her for a 3 hours rest each week.  That works out to be about 150 kuai a week (10 pounds, or 20 USD).  Bargain - a real contribution to balancing out the quality of life as an expat in Shanghai.

 

Our ayi has an evening shift at a company.  She could also fit in another two daily household shifts.  Whilst in reality I can't see her wanting to work so many hours, at roughtly the same rates, she could make say 2.5k cash in hand .  Graduates in multi national companies (i.e. from top universities, top grades, bilingual) are routinely paid 3k RMB a month.  (200 pounds a month). 

 

Is that slave labour is the question.  Ray's friend says yes.  Ray and I say no.

 

Our ayi's very happy to work for us.  We treat her well as employers, and pay the top end of market rate for her (she does do a good job).  I think slave labour involves forcing pay levels down.  If anything as high-paying expats we're helping drive up the wages that ayis can command in Shanghai, thus increasing their quality of life.  If we didn't hire her, and did our own washing/ironing etc., then we'd save money, and put her out of a job. 

 

There are people in Shanghai who beg for money.  There are people in Shanghai who carry out basic tasks to make money, e.g. recycling bottles, mending clothes.  Why deny these working people the opportunity to make money?  There are millions of people who want to work in China, at any wage per hour, if only for a lack of employers.

 

Opinions?