When I lived in Hong Kong from 1998 to 2001, I had a Filipina helper. The process was regulated by the government. My cost was fixed at $500 a month plus a trip home once a year and other benefits. She had a college degree but said she can make much more working as a helper in Hong Kong than as a nurse in Iloilo. I hadn't lived in the Philippines at that time so I was surprised to hear that, now of course I know. Does anyone know what a Filipina helper makes in Hong Kong or Tokyo today?
No idea. I thought I had heard in Dubai and Kuwait they made around 800-1000 a month (but were responsible for their own travel back home). The middle east has proven rather dangerous for Filipina though. A lot of rape. The mechanic in the tent I work in worked for Ceres in Bacolod before coming out here. I didn't ask him what he made but he said it is much better pay in Afghanistan than Bacolod. If I had to guess I would say they were paying the Filipino mechanics out here around 1-2k USD a month. Chump change and you won't find any people from Western countries lining up to work out here for that but for a Filipino mechanic that has to be huge money.
Call center workers in Manila can make $500 / month and a good call center job here can probably approach that. However, that's a relatively skilled position considering the workers probably have to speak good English. When I first got here, the big call centers were looking for college grads. Two of my friends got rejected, one which spoke great English but no college degree and one with a college degree but horrible English. I have heard they have since ditched the silly degree requirement. They probably can't find enough workers. I imagine domestic helpers in Hong Kong have to be making a bit more than that.
