So my husband and I have been watching a TV show called Spartacus. The show is rather 'intense', particularly with regard to slavery in all forms - Maids, Prostitutes, Fighters and Gladiators. Sadly, it got me thinking about foreign workers in Singapore...
Singapore is a growing city/country.... whatever it is! There is construction on almost every corner... we are quite literally surrounded by construction! With this endless construction comes a zillion foreign workers - they come from Malaysia, The Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh... they live on site, in poor conditions, they spend months, some years, away from their family and loved ones... the only difference is it is what they choose to do... Reality is they can come here and make more money then they could at home. They do it to support their families.
Same goes for maids here. It's not like back home where families may have a 'live-in maid' or nanny, who eats what you eat, dresses like you dress, has their own room and most likely a stack of possessions, is 'part of the family'... Oh no...
Here, most maids live in 'quarters' so small that you can't fit a single bed inside... or worse, many are given the apartments bomb shelter! (not kidding, most units have an individual bomb shelter, it was a government initiative post Sept 11). How relaxing it must be to go to sleep every night inside a metal box...
The 'quarters' or bomb shelter, usually have no aircon and no windows... but there is an 'ensuite' with a small basin and a shower over the toilet! Oh, and with no hot water... (I guess if you live without aircon in 30+ degree heat in what could be a steal box, a cold shower is all you need right?... )
Call me crazy, but I still can't get comfortable with this...
I can rationalise and say that I know that these conditions are in fact (in most cases) better than what these ladies would have had back home. Where I come unstuck is, it is not acceptable where I come from AND where most of the expats who have full time maids have come from. So why when people move to where it is not just acceptable but 'normal', do they change their views?
Now, please don't get me wrong. I have No issue with expats having hired help. If you moved to a foreign country and had the opportunity, for a small price, to have someone with you day and night to help with your children, house work, shopping etc, wouldn't you take it too? It's just the quality of living and the treatment of the helpers that disturbs me.
We, like many younger couples (without children) have a lovely Filipino lady (Vicky) who comes to clean our house once a week. Vicky is in her mid 30's and is here with her husband (he works in construction), they live in a HDB (government housing) and share a flat with another couple. Her 2 children, both under the age of 11 are still in the Philippines, they live with her mother and her 10 brother's and sisters AND their children! 31 people in ONE house! She stays here and works hard to send money home, to support her ENTIRE family. She talks to her children most days over the phone, but only gets to go home ONCE a year to visit them. She has been working in Singapore for 7 years...
Reality again is that she is making the equivalent of a mountain of money for her family, something she certainly couldn't do working the rice fields back home (yes, that is what she used to do and what her brother's and sisters still do...). A big sacrifice to be away from everyone, but a huge benefit for her family. Selfless.
When Vicky arrives each week I always give her a warm greeting, I chat to her as we both poke about doing whatever chores we are doing (I try and keep myself busy with washing, putting clothes away, cooking etc while she is here - I can't sit on my butt whilst someone else does my cleaning....), I ask about her week, her family and her favourite TV shows. I do it because she is a lovely person and I care. Regardless of the fact that we are paying her, I am so grateful for the work she does and I respect and admire her for what she is doing for her family.
Bottom line; regardless of how 'bad' the standard of living might be 'back home'... if Vicky was to live with us I couldn't shove her in our storage room...
S x
