Probe into Live-In Caregiver Program of Canada: Congress Resolution No. 643

Probe into Live-In Caregiver Program of Canada: Congress Resolution No. 643

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House Resolution No. 643 (Filed March 2, 2005)

Introduced by
Anakpawis Representatives Crispin B. Beltran, Rafael V. Mariano;
Bayan Muna Representative Teodoro A. Casiño;  Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Liza Largoza-Maza;
Bayan Muna Representatives Satur C. Ocampo and  Joel G. Virador

RESOLUTION
DIRECTING THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON OVERSEAS WORKERS’ AFFAIRS TO CONDUCT  AN  INVESTIGATION IN AID OF LEGISLATION, INTO THE LIVE-IN CAREGIVER PROGRAM OF THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT  AND RECOMMEND MEASURES THAT WILL PROTECT THE WELFARE OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS EMPLOYED AS CAREGIVERS IN CANADA AS WELL AS  IN OTHER COUNTRIES

WHEREAS, since the Foreign Domestic Movement in 1981 and the Live-in Care Program in 1992 institutionalized domestic work in Canada, thousands of Third World women have come to Canada to work as private nannies in the homes of Canadian families. A staggering 93 percent of these women are  Filipino;

WHEREAS, there are recent reports of abuses against Filipina caregivers in Canada which underscore how Filipino caregivers, through the LCP, are treated as a form of cheap labor and some would even say modern-day slaves;

WHEREAS, Precious (not her real name) recently arrived in Canada to work for a Taiwanese family. Unlike her contract which stated she would only work six hours a day for $8.50 per hour, she found herself working 17 hour days and receiving the equivalent of 59 cents an hour with no overtime or holiday pay. She was also granted only one day off in her two months of work;

WHEREAS, in violation of her employment contract she was also forced to work in her employer’s video store and clean her employer’s mother’s home. She was not given keys  and discouraged from leaving her employer’s house. She was only given a bed in the family’s library where there was neither a door with a lock nor private bathroom;

WHEREAS, she tolerated such conditions for two months under such conditions because she had felt such loyalty to her employer’s sister for whom she had worked for six years in Taiwan. After expressing her discontent with her working arrangements, her employer threatened to have her deported;

WHEREAS, in a state of panic and thinking about her children’s future, Precious called the Kalayaan Centre, a non-government organization of Filipino  immigrants whose advocacy  is protection for the welfare of OFWs. Precious found the NGO’s number in a  brochure she earlier received from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)  office. Members of the Center and  its sister organization SIKLAB were able to “rescue” a trembling and tearful Precious from her employer’s home;

WHEREAS, Glecy Duran of SIKLAB explainsthat what has happened to Precious  strengthens the apprehension of many migrant groups that the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) means modern-day slavery for the thousands of domestic workers in Canada. Despite Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s regulations regarding the LCP, they do not enforce or monitor standards of working conditions in the employers’ homes.  Many are reportedly isolated in the homes of their employers under abusive and exploitative conditions; and their contribution in terms of social and economic benefit has not been recognized;

WHEREAS, SIKLAB along with other Filipino organizations under the National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada (NAPWC) have been calling to scrap the LCP and other temporary worker programs. They advocate that Canada instead remove the LCP’s mandatory live-in requirement and allow workers to enter as permanent residents to prevent abuse and exploitation;

WHEREAS, while provincial governments have recently met in Vancouver with federal Social Development Minister Ken Dryden to discuss the new $5 billion five-year federally funded childcare initiative, the  national alliance of Filipino women says the issue of Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s (CIC) Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) is sadly missing from the debate;

WHEREAS, the LCP is being deliberately excluded from discussions on a national childcare program according to Diocson, national chairperson of the NAPWC She points to the billions of dollars the government is able to save in childcare costs through the LCP as a major reason. While there are estimates that it costs $15,000 a year to provide childcare for one child, employers of domestic workers are getting a package deal. Many domestic workers earn far less than $15,000 a year taking care of three children or more and doing other household work;

WHEREAS, the Philippine government should look  into reports of abuses allegedly being suffered by Filipino caregivers in various countries, primarily Canada. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and its adjunct agencies dealing with OFW affairs should be taken to the task of monitoring the welfare of Filipino caregivers abroad; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the Special Committee on Overseas Workers’ Affairs to conduct an  investigation, in aid of legislation, into the Live-in Caregiver Program being  implemented by the Canadian government and recommend measures that will protect  the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) working as caregivers in Canada as well as  in other countries.

Resolved further that representatives of the DFA, the DOLE and its adjunct agencies dealing with OFWs should also give development reports regarding the said matter.

Adopted,

Rep. Crispin B. Beltran                Rep. Rafael V. Mariano         Rep. Teodoro A. Casiño
Anakpawis                                          Anakpawis                             Bayan Muna

Rep. Liza Largoza-Maza       Rep. Satur C. Ocampo             Rep. Joel G. Virador
Gabriela Women’s Party         Bayan Muna                Bayan Muna