A QUALITATIVE STUDY ON THE EXPERIENCES OF DOMESTIC HELPERS IN MANILA

This study was conducted by: Paul Onrubia, Danica Estanislao, Gian Maniego, Hazel Delas Alas and LA Revilla

I.                    INTRODUCTION

                Domestic working has been considered as an essential form of living, and as well as a source of financial stability, for families usually coming from the provinces and falling under low socioeconomic position, particularly in the Philippine society (Sayres, 2005). The domestic worker renders personal service in the employer’s home which is usually necessary for household maintenance and familial convenience (ILO, 2006). The purpose, therefore, of this study is on the experiences of these domestic workers with regards to their labor employment. However, domestic working is not just about physical work; it is also a role which constructs and situates the worker within certain set of social relationships (MacDonald, 2006). For this reason the study also aims to determine how the domestic worker would adjust to such experiences and opportunities that present itself in their line of work, not only in relation to living under a relatively new kind of living condition, but as well as to the authority of their employers, of which they must abide to, and to leaving their own families in the province.

II.                  METHODS

The study involved eleven domestic helpers; five were interviewed individually while the rest were part of a focus group discussion. The researchers used convenient sampling as a method of garnering participants; the study requires domestic workers who are currently employed and above the legal working age. Although various domestic workers around the Metro Manila would meet the study’s specification, the researchers garnered the participants through inquiring them for their time, with the consent their employers, only within the boundary of the researchers corresponding neighborhoods. For the data gathering component, the method used for the study was mainly conducting an interview. Data analysis includes audio transcriptions which were then encoded and extracted to obtain the key themes of the study. To ensure validity, participants were to comment on the garnered data and approve of the accuracy to their experiences. The participants were also made “co-researchers” so that they could constantly analyze and assess the data.

III.                RESULTS

Table1. The experiences of Domestic Helpers in an urban setting

- The following table illustrates the experiences of domestic helpers in an urban setting; experiences that particularly pertain and are limited to their line of work.

Themes	Working Definition/Description	Data Extract (Quotes from participants)
Personal Leisure	During breaks, domestic helpers find other activities, like shopping, to have some time with themselves and with other important people in their lives.	Q: Ano po ba yung pinakamalaking pagbabago na naransan mo mula ng galling sa probinsya ditto sa Maynila? “Yung nabibili mo yung gusto mo, sa probinsya kasi maliit yung kita kaya yung gusto mo di mo mabili. Dito kasi nabibili mo na kasi malaki na yung kinikita mo” Q: Maliban naman po dun, nakakahanap naman po kayo ng oras para sa sarili niyo? “Pag nag-off –nagpapahinga lang… sa ate ko lang. O kaya gumagala lang din dito sa buong subdivision, kasama naming yung bata.”
Sustaining the basic needs of their family in the province	The resources the domestic helpers acquire are sent to their family – sending basic necessities (“mga padala”) and remitting their earnings.	Q: Sa mga pagkakataon na bumibili kayo, nagpapadala rin po ba kayo sa pamilya niyo? “Oo, padala nalang. Sa tatay ko lang –may kanya kanya naman na kaming pamilya.” Q: Bakit po dumating sa point na nag iba-iba kayo ng trabaho? “Syempre nag hahanap ng magandang kita. Yung mataas na kita para sa pamilya.”
Unexpected leaves (amidst work) to administer the needs of their children	The duty of the parent domestic helper is going back to the province to their family to monitor the behaviors of their children during problematic times and budgeting for their children.	Q: Nung minsan kang umuwi, gaano ka katagal simula ng pumasok dito? “Kasi po nagka problema yung anak ko noon. Nagkaproblema kasi sabi ng mama ko kelangan asikasuhin mga bata hindi yata kasi nakikinig sa kanila. Edi ang ginawa ko sabi ko uuwi ako titignan ko kung ano magagawa.  Ayun pagkauwi ko kinausap ko mga bata tinanong ko kung nag-aaral sila kasi puro daw lakwatsa, mahirap kako walang mapapala. Sabi ko kaya ko kayo pinag-aaral, nagtrabaho ako para sa inyo. Kaya nag stay muna ako doon ng mga mag iisang buwan kasi tinesting kosila. Okay naman, nag-aaral naman sila. Kaya sabi ko babalik ulit ako sa trabaho. Itext niyo nalang ako kung ano pa maging problema.
Engaging in other forms of work for the benefit of their family	The domestic helper (also) works for the betterment of their own family in the province, some domestic helpers do not consider day-offs and engage in other work opportunities for the extra profits.	Q: Bakit po dumating sa point na nag iba-iba kayo ng trabaho? “Syempre naghahanap ng magandang kita. Yung mataas na kita para sa pamilya. Pero parang pare-parehas din, pag sa pabrika ganun din magastos din. Pagsa canteen ganun din. Pag nasa loob ka ngbahay pag katulong medyo tipid kasi hindi ka naman lumalabas eh.”

Table Content: A change in the domestic helpers living condition or environment would also provide them new experiences and opportunities. The experiences they go through are still grounded upon the fundamental reason of why they entered domestic working – it serves as a means of resources and income for themselves and their family. This is why the experiences (other than that of their domestic work) of engaging in different employment and leisure activities are still related to the primary work they do.

Table2. How Domestic Helpers adjust to their Employer

- The following table illustrates the measures taken by domestic helpers to comply with the terms of their employer with regards to their overall relationship.

Themes	Working Definition/Description	Data Extract (Quotes from participants)
Approaching their employer when in need of their assistance regarding a particular situation they are in	The domestic helpers display a respecting and unassertive attitude towards their employer when conversing with them.	Q: Kapag po may problema kayo… sino po tinatakbuhan ninyo? “Yung boss ko, oras na kapag sa financial, siya yung lapitan ko.. kasi wala naman talaga akong ibang matatakbuhan eh kundi yung boss ko.”
Committing themselves to their assigned responsibilities or obligations	They give all of their time and effort in their tasks through displaying obedience to it. Sometimes they do not take the opportunity of having day-offs; all their works and tasks are efficiently and immediately done.	Q: Meron po ba yung sa tungkulin niyo po, yung lagpas na yung pinagawa nila sayo? “Hindi ko na iniisip yun. Kasi parang isang tao na rin sila sa akin, kaya kahit ano ano dyan (naipagawa) natural nalang na gagawin yun. Walang pa isip-isip.”
Accepts personal mistakes made in their line of duty	The domestic helpers admit their faults by not attempting to directly confront them in a defensive manner.	Q: Minsan po ba dumating na sa point na may pinagawa sila sayo na lagpas sa tungkulin ninyo? “Oo… Yung isang beses inutos sa akin yung paliguan yung bata tapos nauna ko yung pumuntang market. Tapos may binili ako. Pero di naman nagalit, nag text lang sa akin. Okay lang naman sa akin, wala naman iyon.”
Solving conflicts during times of negligence	Although domestic helpers, most of the time, do not directly confront nor do they defend themselves when committing a mistake, they are sensitive enough to approach and apologize their employer when a mistake is done.	Q: Pag may responsibilidad po kayo na hindi niyo nagagawa, ano po nasasabi nila sayo? May nasasabi ba sila? Ano po yung ginagawa nila? “Wala naman silang sinasabi basta ipapaliwanag mo minsan na bakit ganyan. Pinapaliwanag ko naiintindihan na nila yun.”
Assisting one another (fellow domestic helpers in household) to accomplish duties	If in the household, the domestic helper is fortunate enough to have colleagues around, they help each in accomplishing the tasks given to them.	Q: So ano naman po ba ang araw-araw na ginagawa ninyo? “Kasama na sa pag-aalaga ng bata , maglalaba, magluluto, naglilinis, dalawa kasi kami – nagtutulong-tulong nalang kami”

Table Content: In their line of work, domestic helpers are aware that they must be unconditionally committed to their employer’s authority and to their assigned duties. Maintaining a civil relationship with their employer is as important as being compliant and modest, especially during times of personal neglect or irresponsibility. This is why being able to establish a good relationship with their employer helps in enabling the domestic helpers to approach their bosses, during times wherein they would need assistance, particularly financial ones.

Table3. How Domestic Helpers adjust to leaving their family in the province.

-The following table illustrates the measures taken by domestic helpers to amend for leaving their families to enter domestic work.

Themes	Working Definition/Description	Data Extract (Quotes from participants)
Maintaining Communication	Domestic Helpers attempt to consistently communicate with their families in the province. They make use of available resources such as telecommunication tools, for example, landlines or mobile phones, to connect with their families.	Q: Tuwing kalian po kayo nakikipag-usap sa pamilya ninyo? “Pag nagpapadala ako ng pera, pero hindi lang tuwing nagpapadala ako ng pera tiyaka lang ako tumatawag. Pag minsan na mimiss ko sila, dun ko din sila tatawagan.” Q: So pano po kayo nakikipag-usap sa kanila? “Sa cellphone… Tawag-tawag nalang kahit anong araw, pag gusto mo.”
Engaging in alternative leisure activities	Domestic Helpers are w/o full control of their time, even with communicating with their family. They keep themselves occupied with particular leisure activities, such as going out with their current employers and watching TV or relaxing at home, to “free” their minds off missing their own family.	Q: So ano po ba yung nararamdaman ninyo na malayo kayo sa pamilya mo? “Nung una malungkot syempre, pero ng katagalan na rin okay na kasi masaya naman dito – naglilibang libang nalang. Nanunuod palagi ng TV. Masaya naman kasi pag namamasyal o umaalis sila, sinasama ako”
“Releasing” or unconstructively expressing their emotions on being away from their family	Domestic Helpers experience different emotional states when being away from their family for a long period of time.  Most would “let out” their depressed feeling and cry; although there are some who would go to the extent of harshly confronting others to achieve what they desire for their family.	Q: Tuwing kalian niyo po naiisip ang iyong mga anak? “Pag pagod ako minsan.  Minsan umiiyak din ako. Wala lang nakaupo lang” Q: Ano naman po nararamdaman mo pag nagka problema sa inyo, tapos naririto kayo? “Nung July 7 nasa Ospital anak ko, nagka UTI. Nag-away kami ng nanay ko kasi nga di niya alam gagawin niya – nakapag salita ako ng hindi maganda… pag may nangyari sa anak ko baka di ko alam magagawa ko sa inyo. Kasi kahit anong gagawin ko wala na talaga akong magagawa kasi malayo ako”
Relating to other people within their current environment about their endeavors	Domestic Helpers are committed to their employment with their employer, which therefore inclines them to be present in the employer’s household. Being away from their families, they are not able to directly monitor their own family problems; they would simply open up and share it to their employers.	Q: Pag may problema po kayo sa pamilya ninyo sa probinsya, anong ginagawa ninyo? “Pag may problema, syempre sasabihan nila kung ano kailangan, nasasabi ko din sa amo ko kung ano mga kailangan. Tapos di naman nila binibigo yung sinasabi ko.”
Motivating themselves to be persevering  and to be tolerant	Domestic helpers accept and are aware that they will be away from their families for a long time. They exhibit resilience for their families; they endure certain hardships and concentrate on their work to earn their income.	Q: Sa ngayon po, nagugustuhan niyo ba ang sitwasyon ninyo? “Okay lang naman. Minsan sinasabi ko din sa sarili ko bakit ganito ganyan. Pero wala naman ako magagawa kasi syempre naghahangad din ako ng maganda Q: Anong tingin mo sa lagay ng trabaho mo at pamilya mo ngayon? “Nagtitiis nalang ako para makaraos kami”

Table Content: The most common option for domestic helpers is to consistently maintain communication with their families. Although, there are others who would consider alternative means of mostly emotional behavior, such as by constructively managing them through engaging in alternative, relatively pleasant activities, or by simply letting their negative emotions out and/or relating them to the people within their current surroundings.

IV.                CONCLUSION/DISCUSSION/RECOMMENDATION

The findings show that domestic helpers go through various experiences pertaining to leaving the province and entering a new living condition here in Manila. The primary reason of domestic helpers for entering this line of work is to alleviate their rural poverty (Sayres, 2005), to better the situation and to sustain the needs of their family. Although they would garner new experiences, such as being able to buy things that are only sold here in Manila, they are still obligated to fulfill certain duties to their own family. In entering this line of work, they are aware of the particular responsibilities that come with it. Most of the participants stated that even if they make a few mistakes, they accept these faults and try to immediately resolve conflicts with their employers. As domestic helpers become distant from their family, they can consistently communicate with their family, but they cannot directly monitor problems that occur with their family; they are simply given time by their employers to go back to their family in the province. For this reason, establishing a good relationship and resolving conflicts with their employer is essential; this will also enable social support which can promote the resilience of these domestic workers (van der Ham, N.D). Pertaining to the support they need, particularly with financial difficulties, the domestic helper can be mistress-dependent, when they are confronted with extreme need for survival (Arnado, 2003, p.169). The researchers recommend furthering the investigation and studying the effects of the decisions made by domestic helpers that directly affect their families in the provinces. This can be a vital point of inquiry as future research may be able to determine if entering domestic work can be an effective source of rural poverty alleviation. Also, the researchers consider looking into the employer’s demographic information as well, as this may have bearing on the employer-employee relationship, and in effect, affect the domestic helper’s motives as well.

V.                  REFERENCES

Arnado, J. (2003). Maternalism in Mistress-Maid Relations: The Philippine Experience. Journal of International Women’s Studies Vol. 4 #3 May     2003 177 

International Labour Office. (2006). Kasambahay Handbook. Everything the Filipino Domestic Worker Wants to Know. Domestic Workers           (DOMWORK) Project, Philippines ILO Programme on Mobilizing Action for the Protection of Domestic Workers from Forced Labour and         Trafficking in South-East Asia

MacDonald, M. (2006). Reproducing Social Identities: Employer-Employee Relationships within Paid Domestic Labor in the Netherlands.      Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. Paper 355. School for International Training, Sexuality and Gender Identity Program,            Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Sayres, N. J. (2005). An Analysis of the Situation of Filipino Domestic Workers. ILO Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labour:  Mobilizing Action for the Protection of Domestic Workers from Forced Labour and Trafficking in Southeast Asia.

Van der Ham, L. (n.d). Resilience and environmental resources of female domestic workers from the Philippines.