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Stories of Migrant Domestic Workers in HK

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  1. #21

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    Quote Originally Posted by dolphin116:
    Hi Open Casket,

    Thank you for sharing the encouraging news yet sad episode. I agree with you that most of the stories will likely be "negative" because from what I have seen and heard, the ugly truth is that many of them are here not because they love being a domestic helper and are not protected by the law. For every happy face and funny story, there is some negative touch behind. As I am not shunning from the "negative" stories that some might find uncomfortable to read, I will also present "positive" stories if I come across.
    That sounds great, and I wish you the best. There are roughly 350,000 foreign domestic helpers who largely live in the shadows. It's nice people like you take an interest in their lives.

  2. #22

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    @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.


  3. #23

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    Quote Originally Posted by Mat:
    @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.
    *like*
    And sometimes the very "social" context of their lives is less than positive when they get scammed by needy relatives and have to support them too. I work a lot in Philippines and see some of what they leave behind. It is indeed a tough choice.
    Char Siu King likes this.

  4. #24

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    Quote Originally Posted by HK_Katherine:
    *like*
    And sometimes the very "social" context of their lives is less than positive when they get scammed by needy relatives and have to support them too. I work a lot in Philippines and see some of what they leave behind. It is indeed a tough choice.
    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.

  5. #25

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    Quote Originally Posted by hullexile:
    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.

  6. #26

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    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


  7. #27

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    Quote Originally Posted by Open Casket:
    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.
    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.
    Mat, jmbf and shri like this.

  8. #28
    Quote Originally Posted by Open Casket:
    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.
    Not only women. The Filipino men work on cruiseship & commercial vessels. I'm sure in the hundreds of thousands around the world.
    civil_servant likes this.

  9. #29

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    Quote Originally Posted by dolphin116:
    Hi Shri,

    It would be great if you could push this to the group. As I said earlier and what stu79 and hullexile suggested, I am looking for different perspectives and different stories. Also I am looking for ways to help them concretely, so that connection would help a lot.

    Thanks again!
    Drop me a pm and let me know what message you would like pushed into that group.

  10. #30

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    Quote Originally Posted by Char Siu King:
    Not only women. The Filipino men work on cruiseship & commercial vessels. I'm sure in the hundreds of thousands around the world.
    True. I think it all started with middle eastern oil in the 70's. Many men working on oil rigs.