Welcome to My Compendium

Many Filipinas take on the breadwinner role and financially provide for immediate and extended family members. The Philippines' hardships lead many to seek work abroad, where migrant domestic work is the most sought-after form for Filipinas as it is accessible and attainable. However, Filipina migrant domestic workers report experiencing physical, emotional, verbal, and sexual abuse at the hands of their employers, where their important belongings, such as passports, travel documents, cellphones, and even payments, are withheld. In extreme cases, women are murdered or go missing. These employers typically do not face consequences for their actions. The anti-human rights experience and lack of protection of Filipina migrant domestic workers are found across the globe. However, in my coursework, I focus on the Middle East and what the government of the Philippines can do to protect Filipina migrant domestic workers. I argue that the pre-departure training by the Filipino government can be improved by adding education on International Labour Organization (ILO) laws, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the rights of migrant workers in Middle Eastern countries, and available services abroad to better prepare these women for violent circumstances during their employment. I aim to bring awareness to first- and second-generation Filipinos to motion a conversation within the diaspora, as this is seldom discussed. Yet, many Filipino families in North America start from a mother, grandmother, sister, or aunt who was a migrant domestic worker. I hope my work not only adds to the scarce collection of Filipino scholarly literature but also empowers Filipina migrant domestic workers to fight for the protection they deserve.

Have questions? Contact me!

ccatarro@asu.edu