We all know that an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) is a person who travelled outside the country to work and earn money. Most of them are females who are employed as domestic or houseful service workers (HSW). Some of their tasks include looking after a child or elderly, cooking, doing the laundry, shop for food, and other household chores.
Most of these OFWs are deployed in the Middle East particularly in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE. Some HSW are also based in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.
Despite the number of reports of OFWs being maltreated by employers, more and more Filipinos are still fascinated to work abroad. A higher income is one of the most common reasons why these OFWs are sacrificing their lives, but have you ever wondered how much is the amount they earn for them to take in such maltreatment and abuse?
Below are the estimated earnings of OFWs based on the actual minimum wage received by OFW and HSWs on a monthly basis in different countries:
Bahrain – Around BHD160 ( P21,376+)
Brunei – US$400 (P20, 000+)
China – Ranges=s from 4,500 to 6,000 Yuan (P 33,000+ – P45, 000+)
Cyprus – From 314 to 400 Euros per month (P18, 000+ – P23, 000+)
Canada – Around C$14.44 (P570+) per hour
Dubai – HSWs in Dubai salary earning depends on the employer and the length of your service. They earn around 1,500 Dirhams (P20, 500+)
Egypt – Between $450 and $700 (P22, 600+ – P35, 000+) per month plus benefits.
France – IUsually between $650 and $750 (P32, 700+ – P37, 700+)
Guam – From 600 to 650 Euros (P35, 600+ – P38, 600+)
Hong Kong – Some of Filipinas working in Hong Kong has different salary rate depending on the employer. The minimum salary is set to HKD4, 310 (P27, 765) but some of them claim to be receiving only HKD4, 210 (P27, 121). Other luckier HSWs receive HKD5, 000(P32, 000+), some receive HKD6, 200(P39, 940) and some receive as much as HKD8, 000 (P51, 000+)
Ireland – An HSWs in Ireland claimed that she receives a salary rate of 4,300 Euros (P255, 000+). Nevertheless, the fact is yet to be verified.
Israel – HSWs in Israel earn $1,300 (65,000+). Could be lower or higher depending on the employer
Japan – Around  JP¥136,203(P61,000+)
Kuwait – Around 100 to 120 Kuwaiti Dinars (P16, 000+ – P20, 000+) per month.
KSA – Ranges from SAR 1,500 to SAR2, 000 (P 20,000+ – P26, 000+)
Lebanon – The salary received by HSWs in Lebanon is $400 (P20, 000+)
Malaysia – From 1,500 to 1,600 Malaysian Ringgit (P17, 000 -P18, 000+)
Macau – Around 5,000 Pataca (P41,000+)
Oman – Varies from 120 to 140 Omani Riyal (P15,000 to P18,000+)
Qatar – A Filipina HSWs who works in Qatar could earn from 1,200 to 1,460 Qatari Riyal (P 16,000+ to P20,000+ ) depending on the employer.
Singapore – The salary of HSWs in Singapore varies depending on the employer. They are earning from 550 to 750 Singaporean Dollars (P20,000+ to P27,000+)
Although the numbers are quite appealing, we could never tell the sacrifice and struggle of these OFWs just to earn this amount and sent to their loved ones back home.
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) undersecretary Domindor Say said that there talks with Chinese embassy officials on the possibility of deploying Pinoy domestic helpers in China’s major cities such as Beiijing, Shanghai, and Xiamen.
This is because China is offering up to HK$15,000 or P100,000 monthly salary to HSWs. Say added that Filipinos are favoured by Chinese because they can also teach their employee’s children due to their English proficiency.
Say also said, “Filipinos are also peaceful compared with other nationalities.”