Maternal Sacrifices of Migrant Domestic Helpers
Needless to say, foreign domestic helpers are popular among Hong Kong households. However, we often overlook the difficulties they are facing. They generally struggle to support their families, even though working as a domestic helper already pay more than working in their own countries. Moreover, most domestic helpers are not young, unmarried girls. Many become domestic helpers to provide for their husbands and children. Therefore, we want to highlight some of the challenges they face and remind our readers that they are sacrificing more than meets the eye.
Miles from Home
This sacrifice is often the most challenging one that women face. Mothers usually want to be the ones responsible for raising their children themselves. Instead of taking care of her family, she is miles from home and cannot see them in person. She must send messages, call on the phone, or video chat with her children instead of being there in person. Additionally, many domestic helpers are in positions such as nannies or childcare helpers. She is helping raise someone else’s children while longing to see her own.
Long Tiresome Hours
A mother working as a migrant domestic is not working an easy 9 am-5 pm job. Many of them are working twelve hours or more. These work hours include cooking, cleaning, caring for children, grocery shopping, and other household duties. Sometimes there is more than one person when children are involved, as they usually have a nanny and a domestic helper. However, if the children are primarily in school during the day and the parents arrive home within an hour or so, some may require the domestic to do some short childcare duties. Other errands such as trips to the dry cleaner, pharmacy, or mail service may also fall under her duties. She is often working from morning to night.
Work Nearly Every Day
In addition to the long hours, these domestic workers also tend to work at least five days a week, and the majority work six days a week. This leaves one day for relaxation and personal business. She must do all of her duties in one day. One problem with this is that many business and medical professionals are closed on the same day of the week. Domestics cannot usually visit doctors and banks whenever they like. Their schedules are strict.
Low Pay
While these positions typically pay more than the jobs in their home country or areas, the pay is still subpar for most people. When we stop to consider they are often working 72 hours or more per week, a few hundred dollars a week will not take them far. One benefit may be that they are not paying for room and board and may be able to eat the same meal as the family, though usually after the family finishes and not with the family. While trying to make ends meet in a new country, they are also trying to send money to their families in their homelands to help them.
Higher Risk for Abuse
Women working as domestics are already at a higher risk from abuse by their employers. When we consider that their frustration, sorrow, or depression make them more vulnerable, this can create a terrible situation for domestic helpers. Abuse is not across the board, but separation from family and friends who might help in a challenging situation increases their risk of abuse at the hands of their employer.
Limited Rights
While these mothers are trying to save or send money to their families, they often cannot have personal bank accounts. If they do have an account, they are sometimes limited in how much can be deposited, withdrawn, or used at one time. Sending money sometimes comes down to cash, and this can be dangerous through the postal exchange. Money transfers may not be easy to their home locations either.
Loneliness
They are often alone in Hong Kong and as a first-timer do not know anyone. Living alone in a strange country is hard enough, when coupled with these other sacrifices, it can be nearly unbearable for some. They long for time with their family and friends they have left behind. Sometimes this is in addition to the miles between them and their families. Some of these women were active in their communities before leaving to find better-paying work. They miss these friends as well.
Living Conditions
Sometimes the living conditions are meagre, to say the least. Instead of having a closet, they may live in closets, cabinets, or other found spaces throughout the home. They may be given a place to store their stuff securely, or it may be in the open. Domestic helpers often have little to no privacy.
Final Thoughts
We may think that to leave their own families to endure these conditions is absurd, but we also must consider that most of these migrant workers are receiving more money than they could have by staying at home. While money isn’t everything, it is vital to surviving when you are struggling to eat and have hungry children and spouses. These women are often doing these jobs just to provide the necessities to their families and provide the best lives they can.
Source: HelperPlace