Women must complete domestic training in the Philippines before they can travel for work
November 23, 2011
More than 100,000 women travel from the Philippines to work as maids in other countries each year, according to the AFP. Before they can bard a plane, they must first take a crash course in domestic duties that runs the gamut from mopping to disassembling and cleaning air conditioning units.
"I didn't know there would be so many different techniques just for cleaning," Cherry Pie Antaban, a 30-year-old maid hopeful, told the news publication during a break from her class. "It isn't just sweeping and mopping. We have to know the different types of vacuum cleaners, the different kinds of air conditioners and how to clean them - the window type, the box type, the split type."
The classes are not a guaranteed ticket to overseas work, either, as approximately 6 percent of students do not pass the courses. However, those who do make it through the training process will be able to travel to countries like Singapore to work as maids.
While they are working overseas, these women can stay in touch with their families by using international phone cards to make calls to the Philippines.