Are you finding it difficult to find a Filipina domestic worker recently?
Due to Covid-19 and border closures, the arrival of some domestic workers to the kingdom has become somewhat difficult, despite the high demand.
Meanwhile, more and more Filipino domestic workers are choosing places like Hong Kong and Singapore as their work locations. Here are some of the reasons.
Salary level
The average salary of a foreign domestic worker in Saudi Arabia is around 1,500 Saudi riyals, or $ 400 . Although most families offer this salary, it is actually lower than the average salary offered by other potential workplaces like Hong Kong and Singapore.
By comparison, the minimum wage for foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong is $ 4,630 a month (approximately 2,232.41 SAR) , whatever the tasks they have to do.
According to a survey by HelperChoice, the average salary of a domestic worker is $ 597 (approximately 1668 SAR) in Singapore and 5,000 Hong Kong dollars (~ 2413 SAR) in Hong Kong.
Location and geographical distance
Geographical distance is also one of the reasons that Filipino domestic workers are hesitant to work in Saudi Arabia. The non-stop flight to Riyadh (the kingdom’s capital) takes around 18 hours, which is a long distance for domestic workers compared to other popular work sites such as Hong Kong or Singapore. The flight from Manila to Hong Kong takes only 2.5 hours, and Singapore 3.5 hours.
It is really difficult to deal with being away from home for migrant workers, as their families and sometimes children remain at home. Therefore, most domestic workers prefer to work in a nearby country. This makes them feel emotionally closer to their loved ones.
Moreover, workers in Hong Kong and Singapore are entitled to rest days, annual leave and home leave, and can simply take a short trip home for short vacations. Also, in case of an emergency, a trip from Hong Kong or Singapore to the Philippines will be more convenient for them.
Besides that, the time zone is a concern. The time difference between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines is 5 hours. The Philippines, Hong Kong and Singapore are all countries in Asia. The time difference between those Asian countries is within two hours, which means that Filipino workers can contact their families during their active time.
Benefits and rest time
Although Saudi Arabia provides necessary health care, paid sick leave, annual leave and airline ticket fees for domestic workers, the benefits that foreign domestic workers receive in the country when working in Saudi Arabia remain less than those in other workplaces. .
Domestic workers in Hong Kong are required to sign a Standard Employment Contract (SEC), and they are protected by the Employment Act, which also applies to employees of other sectors.
The Hong Kong Ministry of Labor, Immigration Department, and many other NGOs also provide assistance and resources to migrant domestic workers.
Like Hong Kong, Singapore has a well-established system that protects migrant workers. Additionally, the Singapore government requires employers to have medical checks every six months for their domestic helpers.
When it comes to rest, foreign domestic workers get a full day off 24 hours a week in Hong Kong and Singapore, where they can usually go out on their own and enjoy some personal time with their friends.
Culture and others
Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines are among the countries of Asia that have similar cultures and customs. Filipino domestic workers find themselves easier to adapt to the local culture if they work in places with Asian culture.
What must be taken into account when recruiting Filipino domestic workers
If you want to attract more Filipino workers to accept your job offer, then making an offer with good work environment and salary would be a good incentive.
What do we consider to be a good offer?
A minimum salary of 1500 Saudi riyals or 400 US dollars, which is higher depending on the skills and tasks required
One rest day per week where a worker can enjoy a complete rest for 24 hours without doing any housework. Even if you agree with the worker that she should stay home, she should be able to enjoy 24 hours for herself without work.
9 hours of rest per day to ensure a good sleep and breaks during working hours as indicated in the standard work contract in Saudi Arabia.
3 healthy and balanced meals a day provided by employers.
Employers should not keep passports or residency for domestic workers, and it is illegal to keep personal identification documents
Also, using English during conversation will be an advantage, as it shows that you can communicate with them smoothly.