After your editorial, Helpers Seek Fairness, Reaction Reeks of Racism, you'll surely get a few brickbats from the hardnosed Hong Kong people who say it's only the gweilos (Westerners) who are bleeding hearts on the issue of permanent residency for domestic helpers.

Underscoring all this is the fact that Indonesian women have overtaken the Pinoys as the most numerous domestic helpers in Hong Kong because they are more malleable and agree to being paid less than the minimum wage. That shows the level of desperation.

As many people point out, none of this will go away so long as people need servants and Third Worlders are willing to be slaves, knowing that their families and governments await their remittances. It's a sad state of affairs.

Pinoy Watcher
Hong Kong

(August 19, 2011)


The Philippines no longer supplies
most of Hong Kong's domestic helpers.

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