PH labor chief defends Filipino helpers vs HK pol’s remark

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz came to the defense of Filipino household service workers (HSWs) whom a Hong Kong politician referred to as “sexual resources of male foreigners.”

In a statement Thursday, April 23, the labor chief said she was “seriously concerned” over the commentary of Hong Kong lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who enraged the Filipino community in singling out Filipino women helpers as “weak” for entering illicit relationships with their male employers.

“Filipinos are culturally family-centered. We are known to highly value family ties. This trait has defined Filipinos for generations, wherever they are and whatever circumstances they may be in. Filipino women are homemakers, not home wreckers,” said Baldoz.

The Cabinet official stressed the “honor and dignity” of many Filipino migrant domestic helpers, who themselves find courage to fight sexual abuses they suffer in the hands of some employers by “seeking shelter in our Filipino Workers Resource Centers.”

Hong Kong is home to some 200,000 Filipinos either temporarily working or permanently residing there.

Ip’s remarks have been branded as “anti-women,” “racist,” and “anti-migrant,” among others.

In her opinion article published in Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao, she cited “complaints from expatriate women” that the government was “allowing Filipino domestic helpers to seduce their husbands.”

She wrote of “families wrecked because of relationships between Filipina maids and male employers,” without regard to the role of men in such relationships.

“It is understandable that a weak woman, who has traveled all the way to work in a foreign place with no familial connections – and who might need to feed the old and young in her family – would accept the goodwill of a boyfriend or employer to take care of her,” she wrote.

Baldoz highlighted Ip’s comments as “a personal opinion and do not echo the feelings and perceptions of the general Hong Kong populace, neither of the Hong Kong government.”

She said Ip has been “identified as an apologist.”

Labor-sending country

The Philippines is a known labor-sending country with remittances of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) considered a major boost to the local economy.

“As secretary of labor and employment, I often remind every OFW to observe high moral standard in their work and lifestyle,” Baldoz said.

The labor department is doing stricter monitoring of the recruitment process. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority goes to host countries to conduct training, skills assessment, and certification to ensure the continued employment of OFWs, especially the low-skilled and semi-skilled ones.

“We began this last year in Dubai, and we are preparing to start very soon in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and in other Middle East countries,” said Baldoz, referring to countries where most Filipino domestic workers go.

Baldoz acknowledged that some OFWs “display unacceptable behavior and commit offenses abroad,” but said “the mistakes of the few should not be misconstrued as reflective of the character of all OFWs.” 

“I thank the civil society groups and individuals in Hong Kong and elsewhere who have risen in support and defense of our Filipino HSWs, whose industry and hard work enable the families they serve in Hong Kong to work, comfortable in the thought that their children are left in the better and secure care of Filipino HSWs,” said Baldoz.

She said the Philippines is ready to engage the Hong Kong government “in bilateral talks to discuss the issues and concerns affecting the employment of Filipino HSWs in Hong Kong.”

Ip – a member of the government’s Executive Council or Cabinet – told Agence France-Presse her comments had been misinterpreted.

“I merely cited some facts,” she said.

While there are some 10.5 million Filipinos abroad, the administration of President Benigno Aquino III envisions “a government that creates jobs at home so that working abroad will be a choice rather than a necessity.” – with a report from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com