Black market turns screw on maids

Filipino domestic workers are being paid $2,000 a month on the black market - down from the usual $3,000 - as the economic downturn bites, according to migrant groups.

Indonesians, on the other hand, have seen a slight pay increase from the usual $1,800 to $2,000 in the underground employment sector as they become more vocal in complaining about illegal underpaying. The Government sets a monthly minimum wage for foreign domestic helpers of $3,670, regardless of their country of origin.

A Filipino domestic helper, whose case will be heard by the Labour Tribunal next month, said that on her first day at work, her employer negotiated her salary down to $2,000 telling her she could choose from 'the thousands of Indonesians and Filipinas' who were willing to work for much less than the contracted salary.

She said she was paid $2,200 in total for the first two months. When she tried to collect her salary after the third month the employer asked her to leave, she said.

Edwina Santoyo, director of Bethune House refuge, said the case was a concern because usually underpaid Filipino maids earned $3,000 on average.

She said underpayment for all nationalities had been spreading this year.

Yesterday there were 38 women living at Bethune - all 29 Indonesians there were being underpaid, while seven Filipina and two Sri Lankans were assaulted as well as underpaid.