@Doplhin116.
The ugly truth is not that they dont want to come here as FDH.
The ugly truth is that sadly being FDH is for many the way to put food on the table back home.
Take my helper as an example. She is from a small village an hour drive from Tuguegaro (12hs drive from Manilla - we pay her the airfare no worries) .
She and her husband were farmers with 3 kids now aged 19-17-10.
Before coming to HK (8 years ago), she was working at the farm and as she told us several times, there were days were there weren't any food on the table. Granted she was seeing her kids every day but what she was seeing was kids with no enough food and very bleak prospects. Farmers at best.
Now she goes back twice a year (not enough in my view but that is all we can do for her - and yes I am aware many dont have that chance, sadly) and she sees kids that miss their mumbut that have graudated from school and in the case of the elder one, is now studying at Uni. She went back in March for a her younger daughter graduaiton and she was happy. Of course if she could put food on the table there and see her daughter every day, it would all be better. Sadly she can't.
I know with us she has a "human" deal (ie above minumu wage, full days off, private room, bathroom, two trips a year etc etc) and many don't. Still many do it because it is sadly worse back home. Should we feel it is then ok to abuse them - hell no but we should refrain in my view to say they had no choice. They had a choice, a very very hard one. One that I wish I never have to do and my kid too.
They were born in the wrong country at the wrong time and they pay dearly for it. They come here so that their kids have it better. We shouldn't abuse them but we also shouldn't feel guilty about employing them (and treating them humanly).
The PH/indo government have a lot to answer for.
Indeed, there are so many horror stories on that score with the helpers leaving everything behind to send money home only for it to be blown on booze, women and gambling. Just a few weeks ago we had someone come to borrow money because the money his wife had sent home for school fees and his daughter's 18th had been lost at the casino (we refused and told him to talk to his wife).
A rock and a hard place. "Change is coming" the call in the Philippines now. We can only hope.
Agree, if I'm not mistaken the Philippines (Marcos) has been exporting labor since the early 1970s and Hong Kong has been importing FDHers since the 1980's and 1990s. Gazillions of dollars have been sent back to the Philippines in the past 40 years and what has it done for the country? Zilch.
Thinking the exportation of women to work in other countries enriches a society is shortsighted in my opinion.
The Indonesian govt is the worst colluding with the Agencies to make the helpers immediately in HEAVY DEBT before even starting a job FFS.
Even renewing a finished contract, Indo helpers MUST use the bloody agencies as required by the Indonesia Consulate.
The Philippines govt is probably just as bad LOL but at least finished contract workers dont have to use an agency.
Gratiane de Moustier's 'Dreamseekers': Helper's Journeys from Indonesia to HK
Employment Agency Issues | Helpers For Domestic Helpers
http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/pub...cms_116888.pdf
It has done a hell of a lot. It probably sustains 25% or more of the population. Without that money a lot of people would die from hunger and illness. Is that how it should be? Obviously not but it is the reality.
If you want a long history lesson on the reasons for the current situation I can give it to you, it is very sad reading. Destroyed by the Spanish, Americans, Japanese and the elites they created and supported against the people. The Philippines only got real independence in 1991 in my opinion.