After Telling Them She Will Go Home: Employers Always Deduct a Portion of a Domestic Helper’s Salary

 

One of the most exciting parts of working as an Overseas Filipino Worker is to be reunited with their loved ones in the Philippines. After working for several years away from their families, they can finally enjoy some time with their spouses, children, parents, and siblings.

Most countries and employers allow their employees to go on a month-long vacation after working hard and diligently for two years. Some employers are even kind enough to bring “pabaons” to their employees, other than paying for their airfares. But not all Pinoy domestic helpers are lucky enough to meet a kind employer. Some of them, like this story we are going to share, meet selfish employers.

Maltreatment of the Domestic Helper

An OFW working as a household helper in Kuwait named Fatima Faisal Balabagan posted a video of herself asking public service host Raffy Tulfo to rescue her from the hands of her employers. According to Balabagan, she informed her employers that she will go back to her family in the Philippines since her contract already lapsed. However, upon letting her employer know, her employer started asking for a bracelet (that looks like a hair tie) or else, they will take it from her salary.

Miniminus nila ang sahod ko.

According to Balabagan, this is not the first time that she experienced her employers taking a portion of her salary. Every time it is salary day, her employers will inform her that she broke an item. Also, even if her contract states that she will only serve one family, her employer will tell her to clean another house.

Pagdating ko dito, ang sabi nya, silang tatlo lang ang entertaining ko. Yung anak nilang isa, yung amo kong lalake at yung amo kong babae.

Sir Tulfo, please po. Gusto ko na po umuwi. Gusto ko na po makasama anak ko. Tulungan nya po ako.

Although the domestic helper is okay with the workload, she cannot take the suffering she is experiencing from her employer. Other than receiving only a portion of her salary, it always comes late.

Watch the video here:

 

Even if the employment ban in Kuwait has been established, we still have kababayans waiting for their contracts to finish. We hope Fatima will be rescued and be with her child in the home country.