Rush Hour on Roxas Boulevard in Ermita, Manila, Philippines.
Skyline of the Ermita District Manila, Philippines.
Men carry bags of trash along the shoreline of Manila Bay, Philippines
On Roxas Boulevard in Manila, Philippines, homeless people live on the street next to vendors.
Young women working in a GoGo Bar, Puerto Galera, Philippines.
Fishermen with their raft passing the river in Roxas, Panay, Philippines.
In front of the Bacolod Pension in Negros, Philippines, a wild bunch of cyclo drivers is living in their vehicles. They call themselves "Kawayan Boys" and are living like a family in their gang. Some are back from jail, some are smoking shabu and all are tattooed.
A wild bunch of Tricycle Drivers is living in their vehicels in front of the Bacolod Pension in Bacolod, Negros, Philippines. Some are just back from Jail, some are smoking shabu and all are tattooed. They call themselves KAWAYAN BOYS and live in their gang like a family.
Hikers in the Twin Lakes National Park, Negros, Philippines.
Scenic Road Trip to the Twin Lakes National Park, Negros, Philippines
View on Twin Lakes National Park, Southern Negros, Philippines.
Moe Moe looks at Singapore from the elevator of a shopping center where is located the organization that helps her after being abused by her employers. She was hired to take care of 3 children and the household chores. Her working day began at 5 am and ended at midnight. She ate white rice three times a day accompanied by a glass of water and received punches as punishment when stealing food in the kitchen. In April will began the trial against her employers
Kee Hli Pai and her friend Awe Hung are enjoying their day off in Península Plaza, where they use to meet Burmese domestic workers on Sundays. There seem hasty to take advantage of their limited free time, make new friends or meet other migrants who come in search of romance. Sunday is always short for them. By nightfall they must return to the places where they work and stay.
A couple of friends enjoy their Sunday off in Península Plaza, where Burmese domestic workers use to meet. Since 2012, domestic workers are entitled to wage once a week. This law has generated controversy because there are those who are convinced that the government has not done enough to meet international rights, while others complain of not being able to control the time of those women with the risk of establishing relationships or become pregnant.
A couple of friends enjoy their Sunday off in Península Plaza, where Burmese domestic workers use to meet. Since 2012, domestic workers are entitled to wage once a week. This law has generated controversy because there are those who are convinced that the government has not done enough to meet international rights, while others complain of not being able to control the time of those women with the risk of establishing relationships or become pregnant.
A young Burmese is at the gates of Peninsula Plaza shopping center
A Burmese is enjoying his Sunday off with friends at the gates of Peninsula Plaza shopping center
Ummai, 34, poses near a central street in Singapore. She is a domestic worker from Indonesia who arrived to Singapore in the 90's. She worked at the home of employers who forced her to sleep with a mattress on the balcony and had not a single day off. A few years later, she started the Indonesia Family Network thanks to the generosity of her current employers that allow her time off work if her conferences or activities require
Cartoon example. More available by request.
Paddling a Banca Boat at sunset, Siquijor Island, Philippines.
PHILIPPINES, SIQUIJOR ISLAND, 03.03.2016: Sun protection on a scooter.
Surfer at Cloud 9 Resort, Siargao Island, Philippines.
Surfer is entering the famous spot called Cloud 9 on Siargao Island in the Philippines.
Watchtower at Cloud 9 surf resort, Siargao Island, Philippines.
An infant at the NGO German Doctors Hospital in Valencia, Mindanao, Philippines.
Street scene in the town of Malaybalay, Bukidnon, Mindanao, Philippines.
Desperate Grandmother with a sick child seeks help at the Hospital of the German Doctors in Valencia, Mindanao, Philippines. The NGO offers free medical treatment for poor hill tribe people.
Hilltribe people get free medical treatment in the hospital of the German Doctors in Valencia, Mindanao, Philippines.
Filipino man with his arm raised in Cebu City. Here the locals are getting free medical treatment once a week by the NGO German Doctors and Filipino Volunteers.
Young girl plays with a plastic toy gun in a village near Cebu City, Philippines.
Children in a Shanty Town in Cebu City, Philippines. The NGO German Doctors offers free medical treatment to the people here.
A Filipina volunteer nurse works with the NGO German Doctors to provide free medical treatment in a village of trash collectors near Cebu City in the Philippines.
A nurse examines a child at the German Doctors Hospital in Cebu City, Philippines. The NGO German Doctors offers free medical treatment to the city's slum dwellers.
Friends in a shanty town in Cebu City, Philippines. Documentary for the NGO German Doctors.
Chinese cemetery in Cebu City, Philippines
A young Filipina girl in the slums of Cebu City, Phlippinies where the NGO German Doctors offers free medical treatment.
Homeless children play with an umbrella, while their parents wait for a free consultation with doctors in Cebu City, Philippines. Homeless people live in the tombs at the Chinese cemetery and get free medical treatment once a week provided by the German Doctors and Filipino volunteers.
The dream of a better life to open a business back in Burma is what made Moe Moe reach to Singapore two years ago. What she hasn't taken into account is that she would spend nine months before she won her first salary because of the deductions made by the company that brought her up here: a practice that traps women with a lot of debt and makes them withstand all kinds of abuse to get their first salary. "I was paid $ 420 Singapore [around 280 euros] and I had not a single day in 10 months," explains the 25-year old Burmese woman. Her stocky body and short stature contrast with the photos taken during the time she was abused, where she looks emaciated and beaten.
Thousands of women come to Singapore every year, attracted by the wages of this prosperous city state. But they are manipulated by agents and employers. The conditions of some of them here are similar to slavery. In the 90's the government encouraged women to the labor market and increased the number of visas available for foreign domestic workers to take care of the household chores. But after the crisis of 1997, agencies sought a new way to make money advertising the "zero dollars maids," meaning that the placement rates must be paid by workers when employers did before. The situation has been getting worse over the years. If at first the workers paid 3 to 6 months of their salary, now could be up to 10 months; a practice that traps women with a lot of debt and makes them withstand all kinds of abuse to get your first salary. In addition, many of them have no day off a week and have difficulty asking for help.
The lucky women who have the day off use to meet in public spaces for picnicking or in the vicinity of some malls. There seem hasty to take advantage of their limited free time, make new friends or meet other migrants who are looking for a romance. Sunday is always short for them. When night falls, they must return to the places where they work and stay. In recent years there have been some changes, such as improving some social norms or a gradual increase in law enforcement. Starting next December, agencies will have to be evaluated as a requirement to renew their licenses. However, only employers may evaluate, leaving aside domestic workers; HOME, a local organization, demands that it is incorporated before it takes effect, so they can have a protective mechanism to alleviate the extreme vulnerability they face.
Text by Ana Salvá
Photos by Omar Montenegro
Cartoons by Omar Montenegro (by request)
Misanda, a 20 years old Burmese domestic worker, is enjoying her weekly day off in Singapore. Domestic workers saw recognized their right to wage a day off a week in 2012, although some of them traded the day in exchange for financial compensation to add to their meager incomes.
Misanda, a 20 years old Burmese domestic worker, is enjoying her weekly day off in Singapore. Domestic workers saw recognized their right to wage a day off a week in 2012, although some of them traded the day in exchange for financial compensation to add to their meager incomes.