The Philippines, with around 10% of its population working overseas, has an active labour export policy, whether or not the government admits it. This means their number one exported ‘good’ are Filipinos, who often speak English fluently and have a global reputation for working hard. One common path for female workers overseas is live-in domestic work. The most common destination is Saudi Arabia, which is notorious for its poor working conditions.
Domestic workers in Saudi experience the worst of it, and they are often left with ‘one foot is in the grave, unsure if they’ll go home alive or die overseas. Because of their gender, their visa conditions, their isolation in their employer’s home, and weak supports from Saudi and Philippine governments, they are made particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
This podcast special follows the stories of 4 Filipina domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, their experiences abroad, and their everyday acts of resistance. Their stories aren’t isolated incidents – we zoom out to look at the bigger, global forces shaping their daily lives.
Finally, we look at social media and the internet as new avenues for domestic workers to find support, resistance, and community even while isolated as a worker abroad.
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