MY LIFE completely changed for the better when I started working in the hospital. I received advanced training and specialty certification, making me professionally relevant. I had to stay in the same hospital for 5 years, to obtain my green card. Once I became a permanent resident (having the green card), I was free to move anywhere in the United States (US). Since most of my relatives were in the West Coast, I moved to the East Coast. I started to build roots, became a homeowner, moved from the bedside care, became a faculty at the local university, and obtained a doctoral degree. While doing all that, I became a US citizen, five years after settling in the East Coast.
My immigrant story may be similar to some and may be completely unique to others, especially to other Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in other parts of the world. This series is dedicated to telling immigrant stories of other OFWs, hoping to share their hard work and sacrifices, as well as impart some information that may be helpful to others. Let’s start with a friend, who is working as a domestic help in Hongkong.
Letty had worked as a domestic help in Hongkong since 2003. She is now with her fourth employer. Considering her bad experiences with previous employers, she finally found a good employer that treats her fairly. She is with this employer for seven years. Domestic helpers in Hongkong usually have two-year contracts, with as much as 7 days annual leave, with an employer-provided round trip ticket. These work contracts can be terminated anytime by either the employer or the domestic help. The Hongkong government is strict in enforcing these contracts and ensures that a work visa is in place. Illegal work is discouraged in Hongkong. The Hongkong government particularly enforces these labor and immigration policies by going after the employers with harsh penalties for employing illegal workers.
Domestic helpers do most household chores - cleaning, cooking, doing the laundry, even tutoring the employer’s children. They work six days a week with one day off, which is determined by the employer. There are some social events that are available for Filipino domestic helpers, which are often organized by churches. Of course, Letty prefers to spend her day off around her employer’s location, so she doesn’t have to spend much on commuting.
Most domestic help are women, but there are also men who are employed as gardeners but are trained to become drivers. Drivers end up earning more than a regular domestic help. There are usually small increases in salary every year and after five years of service, you are compensated with a long service bonus. Unfortunately, a lot of employers terminate their domestic help before the fifth year to avoid paying the long service bonus. The Philippine government provides health insurance for the domestic help, but each employer is supposed to purchase health insurance for their employee. There is some opportunity to obtain permanent residency in Hongkong, especially if one marries a Hongkong citizen.
Apparently, obtaining bank loans is very common among Filipino domestic helpers in Hongkong. Letty cautions everyone to be careful with other Filipinos in Hongkong who ask you to be a reference for their loan applications. There have been instances were Filipinos have provided references for friends and have ended up losing their jobs. If the original loan owner defaults on paying the loan, the bank will go after the employers, and of course the employers will go after their domestic helpers.
Letty’s happiness is simple, having regular communications with family members, financially providing for the family, and receiving an occasional “thank you” from family members. Letty, like many OFWs, is a hard working Filipino who simply wants a better life for their families back home.