Filipino Maids For Export

Le Monde Diplomatique:

Twelve percent of the Philippines' GDP comes as remittances from nationals abroad. Many of those are maids, sent all over the world into domestic service to support their children back home. The Philippines government is even training them in servitude

Read the whole story: Le Monde Diplomatique

Comments

[JamesBondQuixote]

11:58 PM on 10/04/2011

It is true -- most Filipina women (at least those whom I have known, having spent a good part of my childhood in the Phil.) are incredibly devoted to the economic well-being ("well-being" means, for many of them, just basic survival) of their families that they would do anything and everything to the point of sacrifice. It is at once edifying, and horrifying. Edifying because it takes such strong spirit and character to endure so much, and horrifying because theirs is a life of daily physical hardships, humiliations, assaults (mostly by lecherous male employers/masters or by sadistic women bosses), and all for a mere pittance which they send to their families back in the P.I. Theirs is an almost fatalistic outlook in life -- poverty was their lot in life, and they are just grateful -- feel even blessed! -- that they have some chance to keep their heads above water even if it meant so much pain and hardship.
Those employers who abuse them or take advantage of them -- these are humans without a conscience. Since we cannot just s.hoo.t them as they deserve (and which will end up depriving these maids of a source of work) the most we can do is lobby for international labor justice. I wonder why the UN would not take up this issue?

[PATOISJAM]

01:00 PM on 10/04/2011

The whole maid thing is is another form of slavery coated in modernity. All I know is that I am sick and tired of the world as is.