"A Filipina household helper is pushing for a law that would protect foreign domestic workers like her. She said the current system makes them vulnerable to abuse." http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/gl...inay-leads-effort-protect-domestic-workers-uk
Its good that she is standing up for home helpers rights although I think her efforts would be best placed in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. I think the young lady in the film must be happy with her lot as she has worked for the same family for ten years. My mahal has a house keeper in the Phils to look after her mother and kids and she is like part of the family and seems to enjoy herself. I always bung her a few quid too which makes her sing more when she's working. Which makes me think of a new thread, "why do Filipinos sing so badly but enjoy karaoke so much" LOL I bet there are very few members where there loved ones didn't have a karaoke machine at home, they just love singing. I hope the loved one doesn't read this, I've been telling her for years what a good singer she is.
Ah but there are many truly wonderful singers in the Phils, always seemed to me like the proportion of good singers and musicians was higher over there than here. Two of Ana's friends were professional singers and really talented (two girls) they had worked the pubs and clubs in Japan for a number of years, really excellent voices and superb range.
(I am actually banned from going near the karoke machine - thank Heaven! ) This is not the first attempt to organize Filipina domestic helpers in the UK, a friend of a friend did so some years ago with the active help of the TUC when she was a postgraduate student at the LSE. She now organizes domestic helpers in Hong Kong. I agree that the effort would be better spent taking care of OFW domestic helpers in the Middle East.
I remember a couple of years back that my loved ones sister employed a maid in Dubai. When the maid left for the Philippines on the usual annual months holiday she was picked out of the airport and put in jail for over a week. The crime, not having the release papers from her previous employer, ridiculous! I felt for the poor girl. The Gulf countries in the Middle East are fine to live and work in for Filipinos and Brits alike, but if you get into trouble you're in deep ***t. I think 75% of the prison inmates in the UAE are in there for owing money, that's why a while back Brits were leaving their cars at the airport and returning to the UK because if they lost their jobs the bank would call their debts in as they always retain a blank cheque, when they put the blank cheque in and it is not paid then they can send you to jail for none payment. Anyone who works in the Gulf countries and loses their job should get the hell out of there if they cant pay their debts. Your working visa is tied to your residence visa and in some cases you have to leave the country within one month of losing your job if you cant find alternative employment. Sometimes however they will leave it open for a few months like they did in my loved ones case. We don't half get off the beaten track in these forums, like a Chinese whisper
I agree that there are excellent singers in the Phils, but they are in a very very small minority. I don't mind them being bad singers, I absolutely love to see even bad singers perform because they ooze so much joy and enthusiasm. Love walking past a karaoke place in the Phils and hearing them sing, makes me feel good because they are having such a good time.
