IMPORTANT INFO FOR DOMESTIC HELPERS: IT SUCKS WORKING IN MALTA (Part 1)
IT SUCKS WORKING IN MALTA
Why it sucks working in Malta? I have more than enough reasons why I will never nor even encourage somebody to work in this teeny-weeny country in Europe. Malta, or the Republic of Malta, a Southern European country located at the center of the Mediterranean, 80 km. south of Sicily and 333 km. north of Libya. Yes, if you have relatives who have gone working in Libya, this is a favorite destination to shop.
Anyway, back to our topic, "Why it sucks working in Malta?". I have a sister who is a PT or Physical Therapist (Physiotherapist to some). She used to work in a cruise ship which was fortunately has been featured in National Geographic's Cruises' Diary. It's a documentary that focuses on the different "happenings" inside these cruise ships. And, unfortunately, one of the featured cruise ship, La Concordia partially sank due to the ship's captain's negligence.
Before this incident happen, my sister already came home since her working contract has already matured. In La Concordia she met Lorna, who came to be her supervisor in a spa where she was assigned. Lorna is a native of Malta and in one of their conversations, she invited my sister to work in Malta. My sister and Lorna became close when Lorna got very sick in the cruise ship, it was my sister who took care of her. Nobody wanted to help Lorna because her staffs don't like her management style and hate her as their supervisor. Thanks to my sister, Lorna got well and that small gesture of my sister has reached Lorna's father.It didn't took awhile that Lorna's father and a family friend who is a priest in Malta visited Lorna in La Concordia when it docked in Italy.
In one of Lorna's conversation with my sister, she informed my sister that she plans to put up a spa in Malta and invited her to work for her. The spa never materialized, but Lorna made it a point to get an employer for my sister- they're Lorna's family friend, the Attards.
For several months, Lorna and my sister exchanged emails to make sure that Lorna can monitor the updates on my sister's application. An agency in Malta (this agency helped the Attards secure requirements for a work permit) who has a counterpart agency here in Manila handled my sister's so called "training" since the job that my sister will be filling in was a Personal Carer and requires official training from her country of origin and/or our country requires all overseas contract workers to seek training here before they're allowed to leave the country.
She will be a Personal Carer for one of the Attard's daughters who has a physical disability. Of course, we were against it, but my sister assured us that everything will be alright since she trusted her former supervisor Lorna that she will make sure my sister will be in good hands while working in Malta and that her employers are their family friend. The Attards are the owners of the Attrans Commercial Ltd. In Malta, it is the leading importer (for now) of heavy plant machinery, generators and scaffolding equipment, mainly a trucking business. The office is located at Mdina Road, Zebbug, Malta. It was founded by Philip Attard Sr. He also has a son named after him, Philip Attard Jr. who now handles the company's day-to-day operations.
After a few emails, Lorna endorsed my sister to Denis Briffa, who works for Attrans, he coordinates with the deployment agency in Malta and he will make sure that my sister's working papers will be processed, so she can work legally in Malta. This agency in Malta will closely coordinate with another agency here in Manila to check on my sisters status.
After the "training" for "domestic helpers"- that's the way I see it since all trainees are taught household chores like cleaning, washing and ironing clothes, etc. All tasks required basic and advance information on what usual household appliance you will encounter while working in any progressive country in the world. Most trainees who apply for this kind of job are not well-versed in using modern appliances since they don't own and can't even afford one or basically, not practical to own one especially if there's no electricity or quite expensive to pay your electric bills. In my sister's case, she knows them all since her house is equipped with these modern gadgets - that makes life easier they say.
The said agency in Manila, constantly coordinates with Denis in Malta since they need my sister's credentials as supporting documents and as part of the work permit requirements in Malta as a foreign applicant. These supporting documents include a university diploma which proves that my sister has really gone to college and has completed a college degree in Physical Therapy; along with employment certificates from her previous employers here and abroad; training certificates that are related to her work; a sample work contract since these Maltese could not provide a copy of a job contract or they don't know how to make one that fits the Philippines government requirements. This sample contract also serves as a benchmark for these foreign employers who seek the expertise of Filipino skilled workers. It gives them an idea on what was expected of them as employers. During the exchange of emails, there were no comments from the employers side if they don't agree with the demands. They were just eager to get my sister posted right away.
Anyway, my sister got her working papers, visa, plane ticket and has gone to Malta. She was fetched by Lorna and a representative of the Attard family at the Malta airport. She was accompanied to the Attard home where the Attrans office is also located, a compound so to speak.They showed her room which is located in one of the buildings inside the Attrans compound. She was interviewed by the Attard family headed by Philip, Carmen (the matriarch) and Bernadette (one of the daughters).
My sister asked them on what will be her duties and her salary, but they seem to be not sure yet. Or probably, they were still making an assessment of how much free labor they can get from this lady from Manila who has no idea what she has gone into! My sister, on the other hand, was so surprised by the behavior of her employer and the set-up. She is somewhat getting a weird feeling about this.
It was after a few days that they further explained that it will be Philip Attard Jr. who will discuss with my sister her salary and all. In the mean time, my sister will have to take care of the following: cleaning the Attrans office ---all the staff's tables (the lady of the house expects that my sister will not miss sweeping under the tables) and remove the garbage--- that includes used coffee cups (It seems Attrans staffs don't know the meaning of 'clean as you go!'), including the President's office, the garage which houses three imported dogs, the Attrans stockroom, basement and the toilet! The first floor has 5 massive tables, mind you! If you're cleaning the offices, she makes sure that she cleans the windows and uses pails of water and wiper to clean the garage floor. (It seems Attrans office nor its staffs never had an idea to keep their workplace clean. 'Clean' is not part of their daily vocabulary). Yes, you heard me right. You will need a wiper to clean the garage floor! Well, my sister doesn't know that it makes cleaning "easier". What's worse, all of these tasks are just part of the many "orders" or demands of these Catholic family. They don't know the meaning of the words - delegate, initiative and humane, not to mention that they're all are Catholics! What a shame, indeed!
Anyway, my sister has to triple douse the floors with water and wipe them with a cloth until they dry, haay! She's not allowed to use a vacuum cleaner since the Attards don't want to pay extra for the electricity spent for using a vacuum cleaner.
During her first day, Philip Attard gave her a rice dish that was a leftover from his staff--- the trucking drivers of Attrans. Bernadette promised to give her a chicken that she can cook in her flat. Since there was no mention of salary then, my sister was wondering if will these people will ever pay her services? Philip and Carmen Attard always mention that they spent a lot of money for hiring my sister. Really. It seems they're more used to giving leftovers to beggars, the way they behave.
After cleaning the Attrans office, etc. my sister thought that was all she'll ever do, but to her surprise, 'it was just 'the tip of the iceberg'! Right before she finishes the office, Bernadette asked her to hurry up, because they still have to go to her place.
My sister will still clean Bernadette's condo! (No wonder Mildred, the Filipina Caregiver did not return after she had her vacation from the Philippines. My sister never met Mildred, but her name was mentioned in the POEA interview. She's still in Malta, but no longer working for the Attards). But wait, it ain't over yet! My sister has to clean the house of the "disabled" daughter of Philip. She lives 30 to 45 minutes away from the Attrans compound.She has to clean the 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 1 kitchen. Wash the dishes and iron the clothes of the family. Joan has a British husband who works as a handyman or electrician of Attrans and an 8-year old son suffering from autism. Hey, this is just from Monday to Wednesday, because on Thursday and Friday, they have to be working in the farm.
Oh no, my sister thought that finally she can rest at the farm. But we're not finished yet! When she arrives at the farm, there lay a load of cauldrons, pots, tons of plates and glasses to wash, 6 long tables waiting to be cleaned, aside from the very "very" dirty kitchen.
I hope you noticed now. There was no mention of "therapy". My sister's contract states that she will be working as a Personal Carer. A Personal Carer is not a Domestic Helper! It also stipulates that she has only one employer, not a bunch of lazy, double-crossing Maltese!
The following events will be unsettling...the nightly knocking on her door when there's only one person who lives under her room in the same building ---- the black man from Ghana. What does he want at 9PM ? According to Carmen, this guy has a family, but "bothers" Mildred by texting her everyday when Mildred was still there. That may be the reason why Mildred never sleeps on the bed and always uses the couch to sleep. She must be sleeping lightly, so as not to sleep deep (so that she can sprung out of the sofa when she hears any commotion). This black man named, Manuel is ilegally staying in Malta. He had just received his working papers. Carmen warned my sister not to talk to Manuel nor even entertain any small talk or exchange pleasantries with him or any of the male staff at Attrans or give her phone number. Carmen always catches them having sexually degrading descriptions and conversations about women while they're working. And this guy is always around Philip. She doesn't like the flow of their conversation, and she describes them as insulting to women. Also, she warned about the priest who is always around her husband. This priest has free massages at the cruise spa whenever he accompanies Lorna's father when he visits her. Clearly, this is Philip's crowd! (No wonder, catastrophes happen inside Malta and in other parts of the world - the world is full of these so-called God-fearing, religion-practicing men who lives in immorality, cruelty and injustice!)
Carmen plans to file for a divorce soon. She sees no reason to stay even after all the sacrifices she made for her children, the Attrans company in order to make her family happy. Years of hard work and dedication that she has forgotten to leave something for herself. Only those who are close to her will know if she will really push through with her plans. In the mean time, she needs to attend to her daughter's upcoming marriage.
(to be continued)
Why it sucks working in Malta? I have more than enough reasons why I will never nor even encourage somebody to work in this teeny-weeny country in Europe. Malta, or the Republic of Malta, a Southern European country located at the center of the Mediterranean, 80 km. south of Sicily and 333 km. north of Libya. Yes, if you have relatives who have gone working in Libya, this is a favorite destination to shop.
Anyway, back to our topic, "Why it sucks working in Malta?". I have a sister who is a PT or Physical Therapist (Physiotherapist to some). She used to work in a cruise ship which was fortunately has been featured in National Geographic's Cruises' Diary. It's a documentary that focuses on the different "happenings" inside these cruise ships. And, unfortunately, one of the featured cruise ship, La Concordia partially sank due to the ship's captain's negligence.
Before this incident happen, my sister already came home since her working contract has already matured. In La Concordia she met Lorna, who came to be her supervisor in a spa where she was assigned. Lorna is a native of Malta and in one of their conversations, she invited my sister to work in Malta. My sister and Lorna became close when Lorna got very sick in the cruise ship, it was my sister who took care of her. Nobody wanted to help Lorna because her staffs don't like her management style and hate her as their supervisor. Thanks to my sister, Lorna got well and that small gesture of my sister has reached Lorna's father.It didn't took awhile that Lorna's father and a family friend who is a priest in Malta visited Lorna in La Concordia when it docked in Italy.
In one of Lorna's conversation with my sister, she informed my sister that she plans to put up a spa in Malta and invited her to work for her. The spa never materialized, but Lorna made it a point to get an employer for my sister- they're Lorna's family friend, the Attards.
For several months, Lorna and my sister exchanged emails to make sure that Lorna can monitor the updates on my sister's application. An agency in Malta (this agency helped the Attards secure requirements for a work permit) who has a counterpart agency here in Manila handled my sister's so called "training" since the job that my sister will be filling in was a Personal Carer and requires official training from her country of origin and/or our country requires all overseas contract workers to seek training here before they're allowed to leave the country.
She will be a Personal Carer for one of the Attard's daughters who has a physical disability. Of course, we were against it, but my sister assured us that everything will be alright since she trusted her former supervisor Lorna that she will make sure my sister will be in good hands while working in Malta and that her employers are their family friend. The Attards are the owners of the Attrans Commercial Ltd. In Malta, it is the leading importer (for now) of heavy plant machinery, generators and scaffolding equipment, mainly a trucking business. The office is located at Mdina Road, Zebbug, Malta. It was founded by Philip Attard Sr. He also has a son named after him, Philip Attard Jr. who now handles the company's day-to-day operations.
After a few emails, Lorna endorsed my sister to Denis Briffa, who works for Attrans, he coordinates with the deployment agency in Malta and he will make sure that my sister's working papers will be processed, so she can work legally in Malta. This agency in Malta will closely coordinate with another agency here in Manila to check on my sisters status.
After the "training" for "domestic helpers"- that's the way I see it since all trainees are taught household chores like cleaning, washing and ironing clothes, etc. All tasks required basic and advance information on what usual household appliance you will encounter while working in any progressive country in the world. Most trainees who apply for this kind of job are not well-versed in using modern appliances since they don't own and can't even afford one or basically, not practical to own one especially if there's no electricity or quite expensive to pay your electric bills. In my sister's case, she knows them all since her house is equipped with these modern gadgets - that makes life easier they say.
The said agency in Manila, constantly coordinates with Denis in Malta since they need my sister's credentials as supporting documents and as part of the work permit requirements in Malta as a foreign applicant. These supporting documents include a university diploma which proves that my sister has really gone to college and has completed a college degree in Physical Therapy; along with employment certificates from her previous employers here and abroad; training certificates that are related to her work; a sample work contract since these Maltese could not provide a copy of a job contract or they don't know how to make one that fits the Philippines government requirements. This sample contract also serves as a benchmark for these foreign employers who seek the expertise of Filipino skilled workers. It gives them an idea on what was expected of them as employers. During the exchange of emails, there were no comments from the employers side if they don't agree with the demands. They were just eager to get my sister posted right away.
Anyway, my sister got her working papers, visa, plane ticket and has gone to Malta. She was fetched by Lorna and a representative of the Attard family at the Malta airport. She was accompanied to the Attard home where the Attrans office is also located, a compound so to speak.They showed her room which is located in one of the buildings inside the Attrans compound. She was interviewed by the Attard family headed by Philip, Carmen (the matriarch) and Bernadette (one of the daughters).
My sister asked them on what will be her duties and her salary, but they seem to be not sure yet. Or probably, they were still making an assessment of how much free labor they can get from this lady from Manila who has no idea what she has gone into! My sister, on the other hand, was so surprised by the behavior of her employer and the set-up. She is somewhat getting a weird feeling about this.
It was after a few days that they further explained that it will be Philip Attard Jr. who will discuss with my sister her salary and all. In the mean time, my sister will have to take care of the following: cleaning the Attrans office ---all the staff's tables (the lady of the house expects that my sister will not miss sweeping under the tables) and remove the garbage--- that includes used coffee cups (It seems Attrans staffs don't know the meaning of 'clean as you go!'), including the President's office, the garage which houses three imported dogs, the Attrans stockroom, basement and the toilet! The first floor has 5 massive tables, mind you! If you're cleaning the offices, she makes sure that she cleans the windows and uses pails of water and wiper to clean the garage floor. (It seems Attrans office nor its staffs never had an idea to keep their workplace clean. 'Clean' is not part of their daily vocabulary). Yes, you heard me right. You will need a wiper to clean the garage floor! Well, my sister doesn't know that it makes cleaning "easier". What's worse, all of these tasks are just part of the many "orders" or demands of these Catholic family. They don't know the meaning of the words - delegate, initiative and humane, not to mention that they're all are Catholics! What a shame, indeed!
Anyway, my sister has to triple douse the floors with water and wipe them with a cloth until they dry, haay! She's not allowed to use a vacuum cleaner since the Attards don't want to pay extra for the electricity spent for using a vacuum cleaner.
During her first day, Philip Attard gave her a rice dish that was a leftover from his staff--- the trucking drivers of Attrans. Bernadette promised to give her a chicken that she can cook in her flat. Since there was no mention of salary then, my sister was wondering if will these people will ever pay her services? Philip and Carmen Attard always mention that they spent a lot of money for hiring my sister. Really. It seems they're more used to giving leftovers to beggars, the way they behave.
After cleaning the Attrans office, etc. my sister thought that was all she'll ever do, but to her surprise, 'it was just 'the tip of the iceberg'! Right before she finishes the office, Bernadette asked her to hurry up, because they still have to go to her place.
My sister will still clean Bernadette's condo! (No wonder Mildred, the Filipina Caregiver did not return after she had her vacation from the Philippines. My sister never met Mildred, but her name was mentioned in the POEA interview. She's still in Malta, but no longer working for the Attards). But wait, it ain't over yet! My sister has to clean the house of the "disabled" daughter of Philip. She lives 30 to 45 minutes away from the Attrans compound.She has to clean the 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 1 kitchen. Wash the dishes and iron the clothes of the family. Joan has a British husband who works as a handyman or electrician of Attrans and an 8-year old son suffering from autism. Hey, this is just from Monday to Wednesday, because on Thursday and Friday, they have to be working in the farm.
Oh no, my sister thought that finally she can rest at the farm. But we're not finished yet! When she arrives at the farm, there lay a load of cauldrons, pots, tons of plates and glasses to wash, 6 long tables waiting to be cleaned, aside from the very "very" dirty kitchen.
I hope you noticed now. There was no mention of "therapy". My sister's contract states that she will be working as a Personal Carer. A Personal Carer is not a Domestic Helper! It also stipulates that she has only one employer, not a bunch of lazy, double-crossing Maltese!
The following events will be unsettling...the nightly knocking on her door when there's only one person who lives under her room in the same building ---- the black man from Ghana. What does he want at 9PM ? According to Carmen, this guy has a family, but "bothers" Mildred by texting her everyday when Mildred was still there. That may be the reason why Mildred never sleeps on the bed and always uses the couch to sleep. She must be sleeping lightly, so as not to sleep deep (so that she can sprung out of the sofa when she hears any commotion). This black man named, Manuel is ilegally staying in Malta. He had just received his working papers. Carmen warned my sister not to talk to Manuel nor even entertain any small talk or exchange pleasantries with him or any of the male staff at Attrans or give her phone number. Carmen always catches them having sexually degrading descriptions and conversations about women while they're working. And this guy is always around Philip. She doesn't like the flow of their conversation, and she describes them as insulting to women. Also, she warned about the priest who is always around her husband. This priest has free massages at the cruise spa whenever he accompanies Lorna's father when he visits her. Clearly, this is Philip's crowd! (No wonder, catastrophes happen inside Malta and in other parts of the world - the world is full of these so-called God-fearing, religion-practicing men who lives in immorality, cruelty and injustice!)
Carmen plans to file for a divorce soon. She sees no reason to stay even after all the sacrifices she made for her children, the Attrans company in order to make her family happy. Years of hard work and dedication that she has forgotten to leave something for herself. Only those who are close to her will know if she will really push through with her plans. In the mean time, she needs to attend to her daughter's upcoming marriage.
(to be continued)
Well sometimes Hong Kong Domestic Helpers Agency receive almost no pay for their first six to eight months in Singapore – to repay their airfare and administrative fees.
ReplyDeleteHi Conner,
ReplyDeleteYes, it's happening where domestic helpers are concerned. We also have agencies here that deduct a month salary (usually the 1st month) to pay for airfare and processing fees. Although applicants already paid for a processing fee worth not to exceed P1,500 or $36 (US dollars). Six (6) to eight (8) months is already abusive! You don't expect the applicants to have money to cover for that length of time working in a foreign country. How can these workers send money to their expecting families? Where do they get money to buy personal stuff if they're not earning a single penny? Likewise, in Singapore, payment for Assistant nurses and Domestic helpers are quite the same. Domestic helpers have an option to stay in their place of work, but nurses have to look for lodging while working in Singapore. Working contracts don't include accommodations and they're quite cheaper than Staff nurses who receive $900 - 1000 (Singaporean dollars), still below standard of an average Singaporean employee (We asked a Singaporean what's the average salary in Singapore to live a decent living and he said that, not less than $4,000 (Singaporean dollars) is already a decent amount. Assistant nurses receive $535 (Singaporean dollars), travel allowance (from home to place of work), food and accommodations not included. In Singapore, you must at least have $500 (Singaporean dollars) for food; flat rental not included. You must also allot money for electricity, especially when you're staying in an air conditioned flat. Anyways, in Singapore, it is always wise to choose an air conditioned flat than not (the country is located near the equator and that's the reason why it's hot/humid in there). Two (2) pairs of uniforms and shoes will be provided by the employer hospital. I was lucky enough to have witnessed a recruitment event staged here in Manila. A recruitment agency from Singapore recruited through a local agency more than a thousand nurse applicants for the positions of Assistant and Staff nurses; and when asked if Singaporean agency can still adjust fees for Assistant nurses since what they're offering is not inviting, the Singaporean agency representative just replied that, "Filipinos only love money". It just crossed my mind that this Singaporean agency rep didn't know what he's talking about. I surmise that, is there anybody who doesn't want to earn decently from her or his job? And he also added that they're also recruiting Thai nurses and their fees are quite cheaper. But, of course, they prefer Filipino nurses because they are well-known in the world for being very dedicated and competent.
Addendum:
DeleteBy the way, a lot of nurse applicants that day recant their papers and no longer wished to continue with their applications...