It came late but come it did: Indonesian: 129,612 Filipino: 128,630 as of the end of June 2009. That's the number of domestic helpers of the two biggest suppliers nations of DHs to Hong Kong. (In Hong Kong, domestic helpers (DH) are defined as FDH (Foreign Domestic Helpers.)
It was first projected that this was going to happen in 2005. It did not at that time or for a few more years, but as mentioned it is now a reality.
It is not the whole story though. The number of Filipino DH did not really go down a lot, actually it has managed to increase a little bit. The change then is in the bigger and constant increase of the Indonesian maids.
Some reasons were given as to why:
1. Indonesian helpers accept cheaper salary.
2. Indonesian helpers accept it if their employers don't give them days off.
3. Indonesian helpers speak Cantonese.
4. Filipino helpers' advantage of speaking English has lost its appeal. Hong Kong people now believe they don't speak good English.
There might be other reasons.
Personally, I believe that our ladies should not come to Hong Kong as helpers anymore. I hope that something can be done: that opportunities are created wherein they can be gainfully employed back home and love it, instead of bearing the difficulties and challenges they face here.
It's painful to see many who have worked here countless of years without seeing betterments in their life or even just prospects. Many who have gone home for good, has to come back and do the same again, and again. Yes, there are those who have gone home "for good" more than once.
That's life for so many Filipinas here in Hong Kong. Majority of them believe that this is actually better than just staying and finding a source of income in the Philippines. Unless this sentiment is changed, this sad cycle isn't going to end.
It was first projected that this was going to happen in 2005. It did not at that time or for a few more years, but as mentioned it is now a reality.
It is not the whole story though. The number of Filipino DH did not really go down a lot, actually it has managed to increase a little bit. The change then is in the bigger and constant increase of the Indonesian maids.
Some reasons were given as to why:
1. Indonesian helpers accept cheaper salary.
2. Indonesian helpers accept it if their employers don't give them days off.
3. Indonesian helpers speak Cantonese.
4. Filipino helpers' advantage of speaking English has lost its appeal. Hong Kong people now believe they don't speak good English.
There might be other reasons.
Personally, I believe that our ladies should not come to Hong Kong as helpers anymore. I hope that something can be done: that opportunities are created wherein they can be gainfully employed back home and love it, instead of bearing the difficulties and challenges they face here.
It's painful to see many who have worked here countless of years without seeing betterments in their life or even just prospects. Many who have gone home for good, has to come back and do the same again, and again. Yes, there are those who have gone home "for good" more than once.
That's life for so many Filipinas here in Hong Kong. Majority of them believe that this is actually better than just staying and finding a source of income in the Philippines. Unless this sentiment is changed, this sad cycle isn't going to end.
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