The care crisis in the Philippines
These week’s readings where a mind opener on the different cost dimensions encompassed by labor forces. The article; The care crisis in the Philippines, showed a very different perspective on the dimensions taken by labor especially when it can be seen that it can cause a tremendous social change in a country. Such trend is seen in the Philippines whereby many women leave their children und the care of other people to work as domestic workers. However, one cannot overlook the fact that a significant 34 to 54% of Filipino population depends on remittances from migrant workers. As such, women, in a bid to provide for their kin have left their children in suffering states, an issue which has caused national uproar especially when it is believed that children belonging to transnational mothers suffer more than those belonging to transnational fathers. This same scenario seems to be repeated on the other side of the world; Mexico. La Mujer Luchando expostulates on the labor in Mexico and how it has evolved over the years. In this article, we can see the difficult conditions in which women have to work in order to be able to support their families such as working under draconian laws which demand that their urine be tested for pregnancy whence they are fired from their employments if found to be pregnant. Additionally, the women who migrate to the U.S for better employment opportunities have to undergo the same repercussions experienced by their counterparts in the Philippines.
As such, there are two issues which are expounded upon by the two readings. These are; the rights of female workers in less developed and in developing nations and the social conditions that is caused by immigration in search of better employment opportunities. In essence, it seems that there are underlying notions which seem to stipulate on the path that has to be followed by such women. My personal experience with such women entails a conversation I overheard from immigrant women on a public park. The women were complaining on how a company with its roots in the U.S had been mistreating female workers in Mexico (where they had immigrated from) by forcing them to work for long hours without rest while paying them very low payments. I couldn’t help but feel as if the company was committing a criminal offense.
Response to Student’s Post 1
Great post. Week 1 readings explore on the different dimensions taken by exploitative labor. However, the one thing that stands out from the readings is that the women who participate in such exploitative labor force are forced to do so by prevailing circumstances. As such, these women are willing to severe lovely family ties and even lose their dignity so as to be able to provide for their families. In this case, this scenario can only be solved by empowering the women at the grassroots at their respective countries.
Response to Student’s Post 2
Hello. I loved reading your discussion post and how it comprehensively looks into the aspect of women’s working rights in Mexico and the Philippines. After studying the week 1 study materials, the word ‘rights’ takes a new dimension. We see that some factors can lead to women to work under extremely inhumane conditions so as to be able to provide for their families. Additionally, we see that some companies are willing to undertake in such type of labor especially when it is seen that some companies are willing to relocate from the U.S to Mexico simply because they will get cheaper labor across the border. As such, this is a big issue which needs a lot of enlightening and women empowerment for it to be stopped.