Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Mon, 21 Dec 1992 18:28:20 +1100
From:         lulu@COOMBS.ANU.EDU.AU
Subject:      PH: Filipina maids

A couple of news items published in the Filipino Courier of Canberra:

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FIIPINA MAIDS: BEATEN UP IN KUWAIT, EVICTED FROM THEIR HONG KONG HUDDLE,
SHORTCHANGED IN CANBERRA
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Early this month, more than 200 Fiipinas camped at the courtyard of the
Philippine Embassy in Kuwait City, waiting for a mercy flight to take them
home to the Philippines.
   They were mostly maids of Kuwaiti families who had been beaten up,
raped, or forced to work long hours without pay.
   There had been similar scenes in other embassies in the city, especially
those of India, Sri Lanka and Bangla Desh. Hundreds more of Asian maids in
similar situations are stuck in Kuawit, unable to afford to break out of
their contracts.
   International human rights groups, such as the Middle East Watch, have
documented widespread abuse and a disturbing prevalence of rape and sexual
assault. Beating and slapping are most common.
   Mr Tony Hill, ABC [Australian Broadcasting Corporation] Radio's Middle
East correspondent, recently reported that the Kuawiti Government had been
embarrassed by the "maid refugees", but had done little to prevent abuse.
   He said action against Kuwaiti employers accused of ill treatment was
almsot unknown, and Kuwaiti officials claimed the problem was exaggerated.
   The plight of Filipina maids in Kuwait and other parts of the world is
the sorry consequence of the massive wave of Filipino women forced to seek
better-paying jobs overseas. Many of these women have tertiary education,
but could not find local jobs to help them live above subsistence level.
   Closer to home, Hong Kong is perhaps the most popular destination of
Filipina maids. There are currently 80,000 Filipinos in Hong Kong, mostly
amahs (maids0 and nannies.
   Hong Kong maids have had their share of sad stories. There was a recent
attempt by a powerful land developer to "evict" them from their favourite
Sunday rendezvous at a Central district plaza. Hong Kong Land, which
manages most of the luxury buildings around the plaza, has complained that
the mess and noise of the Filipinas on Sunday drove away the upmarket and
yuppie shoppers. The developer has proposed moving the Fiipinas to a nearby
underground parking lot.
   The Sunday rendezvous is an indispensable institution among Filipinas in
Hong Kong. Most of them are live-in maids. But the usual accommodation in
Hong Kong are high-rise flats and often, the maids' quarters are restricted
to a couch or sofa-bed in the maind lounge room. They therefore look
forward to Sundays to go to the plaza, meet their compatriots and get some
relief from their claustrophobic week.
   Meanwhile, in Canberra, the number of Filipina maids is minute, compared
to those in Kuwait and Hong Kong. Most of them work for families of foreign
diplomats and most of them have good and satisfactory working and living
conditions. But this tranquil picture is somehow spoiled by the very small
number of diplomatic employers who have not been thoroughly honest with
their Filipina maids. Reports reaching FilCourier indicate that most common
complaints are the absence of "days off", salaries that are lower than
those stated in their contracts, and the employers' 'safekeeping" of the
Filipino passports.
   The maids, however, choose to accept these unfair terms rather than
complain to authorities for fear of losing their jobs and their dollars.
Even if what they actually receive is smaller than what their contracts
provided for, that amount is very precious foreign exchange that keeps the
lifeline of their families back home in the Philippines.

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 PROPOSALS FOR ASIAN LABOUR CARTEL, OVERSEAS MAIDS' UNION AND STRONGER
CONSULATES
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There have been discussions among Asian labour-exporting countries about
the possibility of forming a cartel, or negotiating bloc, to improve the
treatment and working conditions of their overseas workers.
   According to Ms Patricia Licuanan, former Chairperson of the National
Commission for Women and now Academic Vice President of Ateneo de Manila,
said these countries needed to develop some clout in negotiating for better
terms for their workers and ensure their humane treatment.
   Responding to reports of Filipina maids fleeing maltreatment in Kuwait,
Ms Licuanan said hiring countries held labour exporters by the neck.
   "It's as if they say: we (the Philippines) need them, the workers want
to go to them, and if the government bans the export of labour, workers
will go underground anyway."
   Ms Licuanan told FilCourier that at present, if any one of the exporting
countries complained, the hiring country would just turn to another
exporter, such as Sri Lanka or Pakistan. And when the complaint was about
ill treatment of Filipino women workers, they could just clamp down on
hiring Filipino male workers.
   "We all have to get together - we all have the same problem", she said.
   Ms Licuanan also suggested that workers could join an association,
perhaps a union, before they travelled overseas. This would make them feel
that they "belong", and would therefore serve a a built-in support system.
   Another step that should be taken is the strengthening of Philippine
consular missions in countries where there are substantial numbers of
overseas workers.
   Ms Licuanan said most embassies and consulates were ill equipped and
underresourced to cope with the massive number of workers. Staff should be
better trained to deal with overseas workers' problems.
   There should also be greater emphasis on preparing Filipino workers for
the realities in their countries of destination.
   "In as much as many women work overseas by need, and not so much by
choice, they might as well be fully aware what they could do and where to
run to when problems occur", Ms Licuanan said.
   The pre-departure sessions given to workers should not only include the
laws and culture of the countries of destination, but also exposure to the
difficulties that could be encountered. "Returnees" from overseas jobs
could do the briefing in this area.
--------------------------
[end]

Filipino Courier, Canberra, December 1992.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU