Filipino housemaids in Hong Kong Cultural Differences and Challenges

Filipino housemaids in Hong Kong – Cultural Differences and Challenges

•Recently, there were 223,394 foreign housemaids in Hong Kong•Around 8% of HK employed labor(Highest ratio in the world)

Why housemaid

s?

•53% of housemaids•Largest group in HK except local Chinese

Why Filipino?

ParametersFilipino

Housemaids in Hong Kong

Whether Filipino housemaids are

facing challenges in Hong Kong

Whether culture of Philippines

and Hong Kong is compatible

1. Parameters

Whether culture of Philippines and Hong Kong is compatible

• Hypothesis: The culture of Philippines and Hong Kong are NOT compatible

1. Parameters

Hypothesis: The culture of Philippines and Hong Kong are NOT compatible

• Consequence of August 2010 Philippine hostage crisis

• Day to day cultural conflicts• Cultural shocks

2. Parameters

Whether Filipino housemaids are facing challenges in Hong Kong

• Hypothesis: Filipino housemaids ARE facing challenges in Hong Kong

2. Parameters

Hypothesis: Filipino housemaids ARE facing challenges in Hong Kong

• Government policies are discriminating them

• Social discrimination exists in HK• Living and salary condition also

poses challenges for them

Methodology1. Literature review

2. Questionnaire– 93 Filipino (Central District)– 114 HK People (Online)

3. Data Analysis

Expectations

• Expected results:– Positive responses from both Filipino and Hong

Kong people interviewees – Both Hypotheses are proved to be valid, i.e.

1. The culture of the Philippines and Hong Kong are not compatible

2. Filipino housemaids are facing challenge in Hong Kong (government policy, social and job insecurity)

– Implications and solutions could be developed

Expectations

Possible limitations / obstacles

• Ready-made researches and studies might not be available • Sample size of interviewees is not large enough• Targeted interviewees might be less responsive than we have expected • Our hypotheses might not be entirely accurate• A possibility that no solution could be developed

Flow of presentation

•Brief history of Filipino Housemaids in Hong Kong•Cultural of the Philippines and comparison with Hong Kong

Hypothesis 1: The culture of Philippines

and Hong Kong are not compatible

•Government policy discrimination •Social discrimination•Job Insecurity

Hypothesis 2: Filipino Housemaids are

facing Challenge in Hong Kong

•Summary and implications•Significant of the research results•Evaluation of our research

Conclusion

Background of Filipino house maids

History for maids came to Hong Kong

Philippines massively exported housemaids to Hong Kong

There were 223,394 foreign housemaids in Hong Kong.53.11% were from Philippines, 43.15% were from Indonesia and 20.5% were from Thailand.

1970s

Indonesia and Thailand followed suit to export domestic workers.

1990s 2005

How long do you plan to work in Hong Kong

more than 6 years 4-6 years 1-3 years Less than 1 year0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

59%

19% 19%

3%

Republic of the Philippines

Capital : Manila

Official language(s):Filipino (based on Tagalog),English

Government: Unitary presidential constitutional republic

President: Benigno Aquino III

Area-Land: 299,764 km2 (72nd)

Population:91983000(2009 estimate,12th)

Independence from Spain ,from United States

Established: April 27, 1565

Currency: Peso

Problems:MismatchAffordabilityQualityBudget

Education problems in the Philippines:

For every 10 children who start their primary education,only 6 go on to continue with their secondary educationand 4 will manage to enter college.

The economic growth is threatened by education, unstable infrastructure and investment barriers.

agri-culture

34%

in-dus-try 15%

services 51%

Labor force by occupation:

Economy of the Philippines:

Poverty problems in the Philippinesofficial unemployment rate for Philippine in 2010 is

7.3% 23% of the population (20 million Filipinos) people

lives below US$1.25 a day.44% of the population (40 million Filipinos) people

lives below than US$2 a day.

Hypothesis 1

The culture of the Philippines and Hong Kong are not

compatible

Cultural diversity Definition:― “ Cultural diversity is the variety of human societies or cultures in

a specific region, or in the world as a whole. ”

― Obvious cultural differences that exist between people such as language, dress and traditions, there are also significant variations in the way societies organize themselves, in their shared conception of morality. ” – Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Resource Guide to Pale anthropology

Cultural of the PhilippinesFilipino culture blends the indigenous traditions of the

Philippines with the American cultures and Hispanic culture.

Filipinos are Catholic ,religion accounts for most of the traditions.

Filipino value most their respective families, their earnings were all devoted for their families.

Cultural of the Philippines and comparison with Hong Kong

Culture of the Philippines

Culture of Hong Kong

1. The Filipinos are mostly Catholic

Hong Kong people has a wide variety of religious belief.

2. Every Filipino woman desires to have a big family with many children

Most women in Hong Kong want small families as it requires less work to do.

3. In the Philippines culture, males and females are treated unequally

In Hong Kong, males and females are treated equally in family and society

Case study:A domestic helper’s life in Hong Kong“ No one told me that to be smart, you have to be stupid. ”“ You have to forget who you are and be someone else- a maid. ”“ You cannot be sick, you cannot be sad. You have to switch off your

feelings and mind because you are being paid to do as told and emotions, especially homesickness have no place. You have to learn to hide it, and learn to put a smile on your face no matter how much your heart aches. ”

“ To survive and triumphed the overseas saga, we need these: Heart, Mind and Lunacy. ”

-------Domestic Helper's Life- A Closer Look

Conclusion: Life has been difficult for some of the housemaids in Hong Kong , but whatmakes it happen?(reasons other than homesick.)

Survey result:What makes it difficult to integrate into the culture of Hong Kong?

Communication pro

blems caused by la

nguage barrier

There is disc

rimation against

you

Homesick

Different lifesty

le among you and Hong Kong people

Cultural d

ifference betw

een Hong Kong and Philippines

Difficu

lt to adopt fo

od in Hong Kong

Different relig

ion beliefs

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35% 32%

26%

15%

11%

6% 6%4%

Conclusion Communication problem is the major cause of difficulty In integrating into culture of Hong Kong 17% of Filipino housemaids believe that the difference of

lifestyle or culture between Hong Kong and Philippine makes they difficult to integrate into the Hong Kong community.

The culture between Hong Kong and Philippine are incompatible

Hypothesis 2

Filipino housemaids are facing challenges in Hong Kong

Hypothesis 2 - Breakdown• 2a: Government policies are

posing challenges for Filipino housemaids

• 2b: There are social discrimination against Filipino housemaids

• 2c: Underpaid leads to job insecurity

Government policy discrimination

Hypothesis 2a: Filipino housemaids are facing challenges in Hong Kong

Government policy discrimination

Levy

Minimum Wage

Right of Abode issue

No upside to levy 2003 HK government tries to justify its HK$400

levy per month on foreign domestic workers

Cuts their salary from average 3,670HKD to 3,270 HKD

The levy was condemned as discriminatory as it was a new form of tax on an already low paid population

Local news report:

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=6176&sid=&con_type=1&d_str=20030301&sear_year=2003

No upside to levy

2004 Levy challenged as illegal, violating Article 73(3) of the Basic Law

Simultaneously, there was cut in minimum wage for foreign workers

2005 levy ruled as lawful. Was determined to be strictly a charge, and not a form of tax.

No upside to levy

2008 Regina Ip joins street protest for the abolishment of the levy

Government bowed to pressure and extended suspension on the levy from 2 years to 5 years

No upside to levy

Really Against

41%

Quite Against

34%

Quite Satis-fied16%

Really Satsified9%

Housemaid's Perspective on the Levy

No upside to levy

Data analysis: More than 75% of the Filipino maids are not

happy about the levyImplies that the Filipino maids do not perceive

the government as protecting them 25% that are satisfied most likely because

employers are paying them well above the minimum wage

No upside to levy

Implications:Demonstrates the public disapproval of

government treatment towards foreign domestic workers

Portrays the low economic priority in which government places foreign domestic workers especially in hard financial periods

Filipino housemaids themselves have suffered because of the levy policy

Minimum Wage

Currently, proposed that foreign domestic workers are to be excluded from statutory minimum wage law

Regarded as “…reducing status of foreign workers and thus are slaves…” (Global Nation Inquirer)

Minimum Wage

Reasons for exclusion of housemaids:1. Maids have “distinctive working pattern”2. They also enjoy “in-kind benefits” such as free food and accommodation 3. Brings financial hardship to families4. Will affect and undermine the Foreign Domestic Helpers (FDH) policy

Minimum Wage

Instead, housemaids wages is dictated by the Minimum Allowance Wage policy from the FDH policy

The minimum allowance wage is reviewed annually by government

The periodic reviews are NOT transparent and is insecure for domestic workers

Minimum Wage

Really Against

25%

Quite Against22%

Quite Sat-isfied37%

Really Sat-isfied16%

Housemaid’s perspective on minimum wages

Minimum Wage

Data analysis:Interestingly, more than 50% of the maids

were satisfied with the minimum wageMostly due to the fact that the minimum

wages in HK is relatively higher than other jurisdictions

As will be shown in later data, one of the primary reasons why they choose HK is higher salary

Minimum Wage

Implications:Exclusion of workers from statutory minimum wage

can be perceived as discriminatory However, direct adverse impact on the foreign

domestic workers is not as major as expectedYet respondents are also unsatisfied with minimum

wage, strongly implies that on individual basis they perceive their rights overlooked.

Right of Abode

HKSAR immigration department requires foreign domestic helper to leave HK within two weeks of termination of employment contract unless she can find another employment

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor (HKHRM) declares this as discriminatory

United Nations also condemn this two-week rule

Right of Abode

HKRM:“two week-rule” exploits labor rights and

discriminates on grounds of race and non-citizen status

Because same limitation is not imposed on other foreign workers

Although condemned, no positive action was taken on government to change the rule

Right of Abode

United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination:

Realizes that government endorses rule to prevent workers job-hopping

Points out that rule places workers in vulnerable position preventing them reporting violation of their rights from their employers

Points out that rule eradicates possibility of citizenship for workers

Right of Abode

Really Against6%

Quite Against22%

Quite Satisfied41%

Really satisfied31%

Housemaid’s perspective of their immigration

Right of Abode

Data Analysis:

• Surprisingly large majority is satisfied with immigration laws of HK• Most likely because migrating into HK is convenient and efficient• As will be shown later, large number have good relationships with employer, so

simply resign contract to lengthen abode

Right of Abode

Implications:There is unfair treatment towards foreign domestic

workers for their abodeThe direct impact on individual basis is not as

profound as expectedMost likely because those that are concerned with

abode are ones that are not in HK anymore

Conclusion Government policies are indeed posing challenges for filipino

housemaids This is especially evident in the recent levy scheme Other policies, such as exclusion from statutory minimum

wage and “two-week” rule challenges their fundamental rights

Yet most respondents from survey are quite satisfied with them most likely because the other two policies has not directly affected them yet

Social Discrimination

Hypothesis 2b: Filipino housemaids are facing challenges in Hong Kong

Social Discrimination• “Any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on

race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.” - Center for the Study of Human Rights

• ‘denial of a human relationship.’ – International Council of Human rights

• “Everyday racism”

Social Discrimination – Model of Filipino Maids in Hong Kong

Hypothesis: Filipino maids are facing social discrimination in Hong Kong

• Verbal abuse• Physical violence• Marginalization• Problemization

Our model of Social Discrimination for Filipino Maids in Hong Kong (Cox, Taylor, Jr. and Nkomo, Stella, 1996)

Social Discrimination – perspective of Filipino maids

How often do you experience Racial Discrimation?

9%

28%

50%

13%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Never Occassionally Sometimes Alway s

Social Discrimination – perspective of Hong Kong people

Do you think there is social discrimination againstFilipino maids in Hong Kong?

3%

26%

61%

10%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

No Mild Moderate Sev ere

Verbal Abuse

Abusive behavior involving language

which bullies, insults, harasses, discounts and lowers the self esteem of Filipinos

Examples:

Verbal Abuse - Case study

'The War at Home' by Chip

Tsao (March 2009)

Background: Dispute over

the sovereignty of the Spratly

Islands between the Philippines

and China

Quotes:

Verbal Abuse

Implications:

• Verbal abuse is a common form of social discrimination against Filipino housemaids in Hong Kong

• The very first category of discrimination that our Filipino interviewees could associate with

Physical violence

Physical violence is the intentional use of physical force with the potential for causing death, disabilities, injury or harm

• Pushing• Grabbing• Slapping• Punching

The most severe form of social discrimination

Examples:

Physical Violence – perspective of Filipino maids

How often do you experience Physical Violence?

63%

28%

6% 3%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%

Never Occassionally Sometimes Alway s

Physical violence

Implications:

• Physical violence is not the most common form of social discrimination against Filipino housemaids in Hong Kong

• It usually exists in a form of pushing or grabbing while the original intention is not to attack• The reason could be due to the higher education level and well awareness of consequence

of applying physical violence

Marginalization

Marginalization and exclusion of Filipinos from the community

• Being rejected admission to common area of the estate they live in• Being banned from using passenger lift and asked to take cargo lift

instead• Being treated adversely in supermarket compared to local people

• Equal Opportunities Commission, official cases of complaint

Examples:

Marginalization – perspective of Filipino maids

How often do you experience marginalization?

13%

50%

31%

6%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Never Occassionally Sometimes Alway s

Marginalization

Implications:

• Marginalization is a common form of social discrimination against Filipino housemaids in Hong Kong

• 87% of our Filipino maid interviewees experienced marginalization• It is related to house-rules and general perception of Hong Kong people towards

Filipino maids

Problematization

Propose features or characteristics of Filipinos as a problem

• Smell• Ascent / the way they speak• Gesture

Examples:

Problematization – perspective of Filipino maids

Question for Filipino Housemaids:How often do you experience problematization?

16%

31%

47%

6%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Never Occassionally Sometimes Alw ay s

Problematization - Case study

• Manila Hostage Crisis (August 2010)• Background: A former Manila policeman

hijacked a Hong Kong tour with 25 people, asking for a fair hearing for his dismissal. 8 hostages were shot to death while another 9 were injured

Problematization - Case study

Aftermath:

• Several reports of Filipino maids sacked by employers angry at the deaths• “…we are also angry with our government … I hope the Hong Kong government

can explain to local people that it is not the fault of Filipino maids.” - Dolores Balladares-Pelaez, chairwoman of the 6,000-member United Filipinos in Hong Kong

Problematization - Case study (Perspective of Filipino maids)

Has the hostage incident in August affected the way inwhich the general pulibc and your employer treat you?

13%

87%

YesNo

Problematization - Case study (Perspective of Hong Kong people)

Do you think the Manila hostage crisis haschanged your perception towards Filipino maids?

81%

19%

YesNo

Problematization

Implications:

• Problemization against Filipino maids is common Hong Kong• 84% of our Filipino maid interviewees experienced problemization• It is a implicit form of social discrimination which could explain the behavior of employers• Filipino maids might not be well aware of the broadness of problemization exerted on

themselves

Conclusion• An overwhelming 90% of Hong Kong people and

Filipino maids believe there are mild social discrimination in Hong Kong

• Social discrimination is posing challenges for Filipino maids

• It exists in the form of verbal abuse, marginalization and problematization, but less frequently physical violence

Suggestions

• The crux of the matter: public’s attitude towards Foreign Domestic Workers

Do you think Filipino maids is a part of Hong Kong?

61%

39%

YesNo

Do you think there are too many Filipino maids inHong Kong?

65%

35%

YesNo

Suggestions

Education

• Compulsory orientation for first time employers of Filipino Maids• Promoting human right of foreign housemaids in primary and secondary schools• An urge for higher press / media coverage on social discrimination of foreign housemaids • Monitoring of employers who change their domestics helpers frequently• Social workers following up cases of domestic Filipino maids abuses

Underpaid and

Job Insecurity

Hypothesis 2c: Filipino housemaids are facing challenges in Hong Kong

Definition

•salary is paid at an unreasonable level, and causing unsatisfactory

Underpaid

•Being unsatisfied with the job due to stress and unfavorable working condition

Job Insecurity

Cases• 賊外傭押贓物增 典當業禍福難料• http://paper.wenweipo.com [2010-05-31]

• 　■有典當集團表示，去年共收到逾百件賊贓，當中一半來自外傭客。本報記者莫雪芝 攝• 　香港的外籍家庭傭工逾 25 萬人，平均每 10 戶家庭就有 1 戶聘用了外傭。由於多數僱主無法全

天候監察外傭在家的舉動，遇有操守欠佳的家傭，家中財物隨時不翼而飛。警方數字顯示，每年約有 400 宗外傭雜項盜竊 ( 包括在僱主家偷竊的個案 ) ，今年首 1 個月更按年增 32.1% 。賊人要把賊贓「套現」，典當是途徑之一。有典當集團表示，每月有逾千宗外傭典當生意，令典當業有「回春」之勢，但亦衍生處理賊贓問題，集團每年有逾百宗誤收賊贓個案，半數來自外傭。　■本報記者 邱益忠

• 　過去 2 年，每年平均有逾 400 宗外傭干犯雜項盜竊，另有百餘宗外傭觸犯店舖盜竊 ( 見表 ) 。外傭稍有歪念誤入歧途，僱主家成為最易下手的場地，當舖更成為他們將賊贓脫手的渠道之一。在沙田開設當舖的羅先生表示，接近式微的典當業近年有「回春」跡象，主因是外傭客源不斷擴大，支撐行業發展，以該店為例，

• 5 年前外傭客佔生意額不足 10% ，但今年 30% 生意來自外傭，周六、日更有數十宗外傭典當的生意。

• 當舖老闆嘆外傭客「雙刃劍」• 　不過外傭客是典當業的「雙刃劍」，羅先生嘆喟，業界會慎重地收購外傭的典當品，「今年初

有一名外傭拿一隻一卡的鑽戒來典當，當時心大心細，一方面擔心是賊贓，另方面又想做成這筆生意，最後決定博一鋪，以數千元收購，怎知事隔數天便有警察來沒收賊贓。」

• 　全港擁有 12 間分店的靄華押業，於假日外傭雲集的中環開設 2 間分店，而這 2 間分店外傭客比例約 30 至 40% 。該集團董事陳啟豪說，不少外傭一需要金錢應急，便想到典當，該集團每月至少有逾千名外傭典當貨物，每次平均變賣 400 至 600 元。為照顧這些「大客」，該店除了在菲律賓報章刊登廣告外，更在當舖門外設立大電視播放菲律賓的節目。

• 賊贓須充公 賠償須等官判• 　不過他透露，去年該店證實共有約 100 至 120 件典當品是賊贓，涉及金額約 10 萬元，當中本

地人及外傭各佔一半，有關典當品主要為手錶、金器、銀器、電話、微型電腦等。若被警方證實是賊贓，典當品會被充公，幸運的話，法庭會批准向當舖發放賠償，但多數情況下，當舖是血本無歸。

• 　當舖一般提供 3 至 4 個月的贖回期，贖回時客人要支付 3 至 4% 的利息。有業界人士指出， 30% 至 40% 的外傭不會贖回典當品，因此有當舖以低價從外傭處收購金飾，「斷當」後便趁金價高企賣出金飾，從中賺取利潤。

•

• 5 年前外傭客佔生意額不足 10% ，但今年30% 生意來自外傭，周六、日更有數十宗外傭典當的生意。

Hong Kong Employer of Domestic Helpers Association

• VP: Law Guan Den• Est. 30-40% of the employers suffer thieving

Police Force of Central District

• Assistant Commander (Criminal): Lee Yik Long• Stolen materials averagely worth $100,000, highest to around $900,000, including diamonds and

jewelries

Government Policy

•Frozen Salary• $3580 per month•$8-11/ hour•Additional: $10 extra in meal subsidies

August,2010

Hypothesis

Underpaid is a common phenomenon in HK

It can be a reason of social insecurity problem of the Filipinos

Literature Review

Edita A. Tan

• UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES • SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS

“The Wage Structure of Overseas Filipino Workers”

Wage

Domestic Helper

• Monthly• HK Average Wage: USD 471• World Average: USD 262

Wage rate:

Cost of Migration

Pre-departure Expense

Hong Kong

Italy

Questionnaire

Never Occassionally Sometimes Always

31%

38%

31%

0%

Underpaid

Very unsatisfied Unsatisfied Satisfied Very Satisfied

0%

44%

41%

16%

Salary

Not underpaid?

But unsatiesfied with

the salary?

Why do you com to HK?

Higher salary78%

higher standard of living 6%

trend in the Philippines to come to Hong Kong

13%

immigration policy is attractive 3%

Quotations

• “They do not want to return home because their salary in Hong Kong is higher than a police officer or a professor in the Philippines,” said Fermi Wong, founder of Unison Hong Kong, a group that helps ethnic minorities.

• Alfredo Palmiery, president of the Society of Hong Kong Accredited Recruiters of the Philippines (SHARP), said that Hong Kong is still the best destination for Filipino household workers: It is close to the Philippines, it offers relatively competitive salaries, and it has very few welfare cases compared to those in the Middle East.

Underpaid?

•But HK does provide a reasonable condition already

Everyone are willing to have a

higher salary

(HK PPL) Do you think the salary of the Filipinos is reasonable?

Too High13%

Fair71%

Too Low16%

(HK PPL) Do you think minimum wage rate should be applied to Filipinos?

Yes19%

No81%

Underpaid is a common phenomenon in HK

It can be a reason of job insecurity problem of the Philippines

Any other reasons?

Really insufficient Quite Insufficient Quite Sufficient Really Sufficient

6%

3%

44%

47%

Support

Where do you seek help?

Hong Kong Immigration Department

19%

Hong Kong Labor Department25%

Philippines Consulate35%

Shelter2%

Church13%

Friends2%

Agency4%

Support

Support

Highly focus on “hard support”

• Only concerned with working related affairs

Overlook "soft support”

• Little concern on counseling and mental health

Any other reasons?

Never Occassionally Sometimes Always

6%

19%

28%

47%

Overwork

Summary

Salary •Salary in Hong Kong is set at a reasonable level

Support •Sufficient in terms of “hard support”, rather weak in “soft support”

Overwork •Overwork is a common problem

• Last but not the least

– Generally, are they satisfied with their job?

Highly unsatisfied Unsatisfied Satisfied Very Satisfied

0%

6%

66%

28%

Current Job

Conclusion

Implication of our research

Rights and living conditions for Philippine maids could be improved

There still has room to improve in social, policy, cultural aspects

Summary - Hypothesis 1

The culture of the Philippines and Hong Kong are not compatible

Suggestion

Summary - Hypothesis 2

2a: Government policies are indeed posing challenges for Philippine housemaids

• Suggestion: Arouse Filipino towards their rights and equality

2b: There are mild social discrimination in Hong Kong existing in the form of verbal abuse, marginalization and problemization.

• Suggestion: Education

2c: Underpaid does not lead to job insecurity

• Suggestion: Salary can remain unchanged, but there is not enough support network

Evaluation

Limitation:

• Limitation of survey format and questions.• Questions are not specific enough.• Sample size is not large enough.• There may be a Possible bias of Filipino.• Two perspectives (Hong Kong people and Filipino maid) are not enough.

―Increase the sample size.―In-depth interview could be conducted.―To be more objective , collect ideas from Agency, government,

authorities, institutions, union/association.

Recommendation:

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Q&A

Discussion

1. Has the presentation changed your attitude towards the Filipino housemaids? (Yes/No)

2. What is your opinion about the Filipino housemaids?

3. What can the government do?4. What can we do?