February 18, 2007
GUEST BLOGGER: Paolo Cruz (Dumpling Press)
Sass Rogando-Sasot uses a conversation with a Filipina domestic worker in Hong Kong as a jumping-off point for her smart critique of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency's "competency training and assessment programme", which runs for two to three weeks, at a cost of PhP 10,000 - 15,000! To quote Miz Sass:
So let's see if I understand this correctly -- have a look at Article 11(d) of the UN Women's Convention, which our government has agreed to (in theory, at least). It qualifies the following basic rights: "equal remuneration, including benefits, and to equal treatment in respect to work of equal value." So, apparently, knowing how to work modern household gizmos and provide "hot and cold food beverage services" is of equal value to not being treated like [expletive deleted] by one's employers (foreign and otherwise). Which is also of "equal value" to ten thousand pesos. Yeah, that really sounds fair to me, doesn't it?
Article 11(f) of CEDAW provides for the right "to protection of health and to safety in working conditions." Apparently, in the POEA's view, this only applies to those who can pay for it.
Sass Rogando-Sasot uses a conversation with a Filipina domestic worker in Hong Kong as a jumping-off point for her smart critique of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency's "competency training and assessment programme", which runs for two to three weeks, at a cost of PhP 10,000 - 15,000! To quote Miz Sass:
The rationale behind this programme is the tired ears of Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). Flooded by stories of Filipino maids being abused by their employers for lack of necessary skills to operate appliances and gadgets, POEA came up with this 10,000 pesos required skills: house cleaning, laundry and ironing, preparation of hot and cold meals, and provision of hot and cold food and beverage services. POEAs compassion for maids is sincere -- it comes with a price tag. HORRENDOUS.
...
Labour Department secretary Arturo Brion considers the proposal as a long-term investment for maids, giving them better protection against abuses and making them more competent. Mr Brion said this programme is "not mandatory". It doesn't take a genius to know that your papers will be processed faster if you undergo it. Hence, it's semi-compulsory.
So let's see if I understand this correctly -- have a look at Article 11(d) of the UN Women's Convention, which our government has agreed to (in theory, at least). It qualifies the following basic rights: "equal remuneration, including benefits, and to equal treatment in respect to work of equal value." So, apparently, knowing how to work modern household gizmos and provide "hot and cold food beverage services" is of equal value to not being treated like [expletive deleted] by one's employers (foreign and otherwise). Which is also of "equal value" to ten thousand pesos. Yeah, that really sounds fair to me, doesn't it?
Article 11(f) of CEDAW provides for the right "to protection of health and to safety in working conditions." Apparently, in the POEA's view, this only applies to those who can pay for it.
Labels: economics, education, governance, livelihood
