By BEN R. ROSARIO
Many Filipinos employed as caregivers in Canada are reportedly being subjected to harsh and exploitative conditions, a group of party-list lawmakers has revealed.
In filing House Resolution (HR) 643 in the House of Representatives, the solons asked the special committee on overseas affairs to conduct an inquiry into reports that Filipinos working under the live-in caregiver program (LCP) in Canada are being treated as modern-day slaves.
They also asked concerned government agencies and the Philippine Embassy in Canada and the Department of Labor and Employment to look deeply into the complaints aired by caregivers not only in Canada but also in certain European countries.
The appeal was aired in HR 643 by Representatives Crispin Beltran (Anakpawis); Rafael Mariano (Anakpawis); Satur Ocampo (Bayan Muna); Teodoro Casino (Bayan Muna); Joel Virador (Bayan Muna); and Liza Maza (Gabriela).
The party-list solons representing cause-oriented organizations accused the Canadian government of being remiss in its duty to enforce regulations in the deployment of caregivers participating in the LCP program.
"Filipino caregivers are reportedly being isolated in the homes under abusive conditions and their contribution in terms of social and economic benefits have not been recognized by Canadian employers," said Mariano.
Beltran claimed having received complaints that caregivers are underpaid yet overworked. Some are also ordered to do household chores that are not covered by the caregiver contracts they entered into with employers.
He cited a case of a caregiver who receives the equivalent of
R0.59 centavos per hour despite being made to work 17 hours a day.
"She is also being made to clean the house of her employer’s mother and asked to double as sales clerk in a video store owned by her employer. But despite these additional work, she sleeps in the family’s library, discouraged from leaving the employer’s house, yet not entitled to holiday pay," Beltran said.
Mariano and Beltran said the reports of abuses against Filipina caregivers are enough bases for the Philippines to ask Canada to scrap or discourage the LCP.
They also urged Canada to allow workers to enter as permanent residents to prevent exploitation.
"Although the estimated cost of getting a caregiver to attend to a child has been pegged at $15,000 annually, many of our compatriots working as caregivers get much less than the amount in taking care of three or more children," Mariano said.
