The amount of total foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong is 300,000. It is thought that around 120,000 have lived here for more than seven years. The work of foreign domestic helper includes housework, cooking and care for the elderly and children. They work hard so that their employers could focus more on their work and leisure. The foreign domestic helpers are a part of the prosperity of Hong Kong.
According to "Philippine immigrant maid wins landmark Hong Kong case" on the BBC News website, today Hong Kong's High Court has ruled that a domestic helper from the Philippines should be allowed to apply for permanent residency in the city. The case was brought by Evangeline Banao Vallejos, who has lived in Hong Kong since 1986. But before that, while other non-Chinese nationals can obtain residency after working in Hong Kong for seven years, immigration rules exclude domestic helpers from seeking permanent residency. Permanent residency means that a person can remain in Hong Kong indefinitely, vote and stand in elections. Without the right to permanent residency, if a maid is dismissed by her employer, she must find another job as a domestic helper or leave Hong Kong within two weeks. Human rights lawyers and many domestic helpers argue that this is a discriminatory policy, so they are very pleased by the ruling. But some politicians and commentators warn that it would allow foreign domestic helpers to bring their children and other relatives to the city, who would require education and housing.
As far as I know, permanent residency is just one of the problems which these foreign domestic helpers had to face. The more pressing concern is working conditions. Some of employers make the work rules and relevant regulations which are considered strict and relentless, such as they are required to sleep in the living room or kitchen. Some foreign domestic helpers suffer from homesickness, employers’ blame and rude requirements, they feel the brink of emotional collapse. But because of the contract, they just comply with and don’t dare to protest.
Nowadays With the uneven economic development, more and more people go abroad to be a domestic helper with their demand for better income and better life. They usually come from economically less developed areas and don’t have a good education. In addition to their physical labor, they don’t have real skills. They are difficult to integrate into the whole society. This is what we call vulnerable groups. I think the government should be more concerned about them. I have heard that Philippine government launches a blacklist plan especially for Filipino overseas workers, if a employer abuse his domestic helpers, he would have been recorded in blacklist, and then he will never be able to find other domestic helpers from Philippines.
On the other hand, Hong Kong government also has his problems to worry about. Hong Kong is considered to be a small place like a pill and the lack of resources. There are a number of foreign domestic helpers there, once the restrictions are canceled, then they would strain the native’s provision of health care, education and public housing. This is also a dilemma of choice to Hong Kong. __________
References
(2011, September 30).Katie Hunt.Philippine immigrant maid wins landmark Hong Kong case.BBC News.Retrieved September 30, 2011 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15090597
Waye,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is interesting enough to drag my mind.
If a woman lived in one country for 25 years, I think she already became a native of the country.
In addition, she deserves to get permanent residency. I hardly dare guess how tough her whole life has been as a domestic helper. However, there is a concern which makes me angry. Even though she won the case, if her goal is to work more in hong kong, I wonder what is good for her except money though this is what she wants. Under the condition which there are still many opponents on the other side of the issue, can she feel happier than before? I wish she could answer Yes.
Waye,
ReplyDeleteNowadays, in Thailand there is also the problem of the foreign helpers.
A thousands of Myanmar helpers are sweeping floors and doing dishes at rich people's houses. We (Thai people) have given helpers low-paid salaries, but they have been expected to work a lot.
Some helpers think that employers are unjust, whereas, owners consider it fair for unskilled workers to get low-paid jobs. Although there are a lot of unwillingness, both sides are still necessary to live together because helpers have to earn living, and employers do not to do housework by themselves.
I don't think all foreign workers are suffering.
ReplyDeleteFrom my experiences with maid in Singapore, we have to paid the salary including insurances which is arranged by government and give them two days off in a month. I believe they are happy with the arrangement. The maid who has experienced for a while and has more network in their group, will choose to work in the foreigner's group in Singapore because they are willing to pay more and treat them well as you know for western country, those people have to their work by themselves. So when they stay in Singapore, they can have helper is become blessing for them. Foreign helper salary in Singapore is less than Hongkong. For People who decide to have helper in Singopore and Hongkong, Those people have to pay salary and insurance and, tax to government. Can you imagine how much they have to pay It is a lot.
For Thailand, people who have foreign helper only pay salary and every 3 months cost to send them out to laos, burma to get the stamp in their passport that is including agent fee, hotel.Some will keep working without this. So it's like robinhood.
Honestly Singapore and Hongkong are very limmited land, they can't let the foreigner like helper to have PR and live like a citizen.
The people are stuggling with the space and work so hard Thailand and Indonesia are difference, they have more land and natural resource.
I've enjoyed reading your discussion on this topic. It reminded me of the discussion that has followed Mur's post on whether the rich should pay higher taxes in the US. Both are very complex issues, which quickly bring up related issues.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is both just and sensible for Hong Kong to allow domestic workers to apply for residence exactly like any other person who has been living and working in Hong Kong - their work has contributed to Hong Kong's prosperity, and there is no obviously relevant reason to discriminate against them.
That they will bring in their children and families is no more likely to be a problem than with any other class of workers, and if it's objectionable for maids to bring in their families, then it must be equally objectionable for doctors to bring theirs in.
To the objection that "they would strain the native’s provision of health care, education and public housing" (Waye, ¶ 5), I would reply that this seems unlikely, since they would continue to contribute to the increased productivity and taxes needed to provide such services. Further, the state should not be providing those services in any case, to anyone, citizen or not.
I agree with Mur and Plan that both sides benefit from their mutual agreements. The job would seem pretty awful to me, but obviously to a lot of poor Filipinos and others, it is a good deal. Just as many poor Thai people sensibly decide that leaving the rice farm to work in an awful factory in Bangkok for very little is much better than staying at home where life is even worse. (A poor life on a small farm is definitely not something I would ever want - I think that those who flee it for something better are making a sensible decision, and one that benefits the entire country.)