LettersThe Philippines must create more jobs at home so that migration does not tear families apart

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Domestic helpers spent their day off in Central in July. The lack of job opportunities in the Philippines has forced many women to come to Hong Kong for work. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 4:11pm, 9 Dec 2018Updated: 4:11pm, 9 Dec 2018

After reading the report “We are like air: Life as a Filipino domestic worker in Hong Kong” (December 2), I was filled with sympathy.

The report pointed out how thousands of families from the Philippines are torn apart by migration every year, with promises by political leaders to create jobs at home remaining unfulfilled. The article also pointed to how deeply rooted migration culture is in the Philippines.

The main factor contributing to migration from the Philippines is the lack of opportunities there. I was particularly touched by the story of the Bacani family: not only did a mother and daughter come to Hong Kong to work as domestic helpers, but one of the sons also had to seek domestic work in Hong Kong even though he had finished maritime school. Clearly, the cycle of migration is hard to break.

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Meanwhile, many Filipino women miss out on witnessing the growth of their children if they are forced to go abroad to work.

While there is no perfect solution to the problem, maybe it is time for the Philippine government to restrict the number of migrants and work on creating more career paths in their country.

Yolanda Tso Yuet-yan, Kwai Chung

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