By the beginning of January 2017 we have noticed the apparition of the new Standard Employment Contract for foreign domestic helpers, which is now blue.
Why this new version ? The main reason is that immigration has been asked to add a new clause to all domestic helper employment contracts. Indeed, after series of high rise death, Philippine government insist to stop making the helpers cleaning windows in dangerous conditions.
So even if it is good step towards the helper working conditions, it could take two years for the clause to be included in all domestic helper contracts, as it requires employers to renew the contracts of their current helpers.
On the other hand, we have experienced a story here in our agency. One helper we placed was asked to clean the window, body inside the employer’s flat, only the arm was extended outside. The neighbor took a picture of her and ask her if she wanted to report the employer to Labour Departement. Obviously the helper had enough common sense to tell him that she was cleaning the window in safe conditions and it wasn’t necessary to complain about anything.
Actually, the helper was right, because the clause stipulates that, when employers ask a helper to clean the outside of any window which is not on the ground floor or not next to a balcony (on which it is reasonably safe to work), the window must be fitted with a secured grille and no part of the helpers body except their arms extend beyond the window ledge. Which was the case for her.
We love solidarity with helpers, we actually even promote it. But we ask helpers and/or employers to reasonnably judge the situation and employers to be responsible for safety of those who work for them.