Enter a vanished world: Jackson, Mississippi, 1962. Where black maids raise children but aren't trusted not to steal the silver...
That is the tag line for The Help by Katheryn Stockett
A story about coloured maids who are brave enough to trust one white women who wants them to tell her what its really like to work for a white family and look after their children while living in a racially discriminated society. The stories are collated into a book that the authors cannot openly put their name to because they fear for their security and their lives.
The backdrop is the civil rights movement where radical new ideas of integration and equality were being forced into the consciousness of the USA by Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and President Kennedy.
That was in 1962.
Meanwhile here in 2011 in Hong Kong philipina maids are essential to the economy of the country but they experience discrimination. They cannot drive, they cannot do any other type of job, they can ONLY be domestic helpers. Other nationalities can apply for permanent residency after being in Hong Kong for seven years, but not if you are a philipina maid.
The following is from a website called Legal News, Hong Kong Lawyer
Filipino maid challenges HK legal system over residency laws
January 2011
'A Filipino maid is challenging Hong Kong’s immigration laws in a bid to gain Hong Kong citizenship. Evangeline Banao Vallejos has filed a writ in the Court of First Instance seeking a review of the decision by authorities not to grant her permanent residency status. Vallejos has lived and worked in Hong Kong as a domestic helper for
24 years. Under Hong Kong law, non-Chinese people are entitled to permanent residency if they have ‘ordinarily resided’ in Hong Kong for a continuous period of seven years. However, the Immigration Ordinance (Cap 115) specifically excludes foreign domestic helpers from being treated as being ‘ordinarily’ resident. A human rights law firm, which is acting for Vallejos, argued that this section of the law is discriminatory and contrary to Art 24 of the Basic Law. If the challenge – on the grounds that the policy is unconstitutional under the Basic Law – is successful, 250,000 domestic helpers could apply for permanent residency once they have been in the city for seven years continuously'
Philippines Hails Landmark Maids Treaty
UPDATE 2nd October, 2011
Hong Kong Maid wins right to apply for permanent resident status.
No matter what! Never ever decide a man's character based in his color, nature, caste, creed but on his behavior! I wonder how people can think of their fellow human beings who serve them all days to be something insulting! but yeah, sometimes its true, once they get your trust on, they start stealing things and There are people who never ever steal anything no matter if we believe them or not..
Posted by: Centre for Sight | August 19, 2011 at 07:31 PM