Philippine and Italian labor migration policies and their effects on the experiences of overseas Filipino workers employed as domestic helpers in Italy

• Main Authors: De Guzman, Anna-Margherita G., Imson, Abigail A, Manalang, Ma. Apple Grace S.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2004
• Subjects: Alien labor, Philippine; Filipinos > Employment > Foreign countries; Philippines > Emigration and immigration; Alien labor, Philippine > Italy
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/6274
• Institution: De La Salle University

The objective of this study was to describe the effects of the Philippine and Italian labor migration policies on the experiences of Filipino migrant workers in the pre-employment and employment stage. The study is qualitative in nature because it describes the experiences of the key respondents before and during employment in Italy. The problems at which we look are recruitment process, employment conditions, problems encountered and coping mechanisms used. Respondents were women returning to the Philippines who have worked as domestic helpers in Italy. Interviews were conducted at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), while the respondents were waiting at the Balik-Manggagawa Center. The researchers also did document research for policies of Philippines and Italy regarding migration, and also considered past studies done on the field of migration. The results were that the experiences of legal and irregular migrants differ because the Philippine labor migration policies are not complemented by the labor migration policies of Italy regarding domestic helpers. Their experience reflected the effects of the policies to their decision of choosing legal or the irregular channel to attain employment overseas. The researchers also found it easier to locate workers who were irregular migrants, rather than legal workers who entered Italy with a working visa. This indicates that the illegal channel seems to be an attractive option for aspiring overseas workers.