Even with perpetual threat of violence in the Gaza Strip, Filipinos still think it’s a better option to stay in Israel or Palestine than go back home in the Philippines. The bombing in neighboring Lebanon in 2006 has left about 1,000 people dead and thousands others affected has not persuaded most Filipinos from leaving the country. Only a few out of the estimated 30,000 Filipinos in Israel and another 30,000 Filipinos in Lebanon evacuated.
So why do Filipinos in this part of the Middle East love to stay despite the imminent danger?
Bigger minimum wage
A large group of Filipinos in Israel work as caregivers and enjoy salaries higher than many other Filipinos elsewhere in the Middle East. As mandated by law, caregivers should receive a minimum wage of 3,710 NIS or around $914 a month. Deduct housing rentals and utility expenses, their net monthly pay wound up to at least $600. That’s much better than domestic helpers in the three Arab nations in Saudi Arabia or Jordan whose earnings are capped at $400.
Hospital insurance coverage
Pregnant women with valid work permit are entitled to insurance coverage for hospitalization, plus a three-month maternity leave provided by the National Insurance Institute. Such relatively favorable working conditions have encouraged undocumented Filipino workers to live dangerously in Israel. The Philippine embassy estimated that in 2008, there are about 7,000 of these workers whose fear of arrest and deportation has restricted their mobility.
Weekly day off plus generous overtime pay
Unlike many domestic helper jobs in Saudi Arabia whose working shifts continue throughout the week, workers in Israel are entitled to a weekly day off. Should she be asked to work on weekly holiday period, payment is pegged at $50 for a day’s work.
Annual vacation, health and severance benefits
Caregivers are also entitled of paid annual vacation of at least 12 days and five paid days while recuperating at $78 per day in case they are sick. Should they be terminated from work, caregivers are given severance pay equivalent to a month’s wage multiplied by the number of years in service, in addition to other benefits.
Even when jailed, a few of them won’t mind. Food and accommodation at prison houses are still better than living in the Philippines under extreme poverty.
Photo credit: Geopad22
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