Migrant workers | Study shows many domestic helpers suffering from depression

Brian Hall (center), Yosa Wariyanti (left of Hall) and other migrant workers who attended the event

A study conducted by a Macau-based scientist shows that the number of Filipino and Indonesian domestic helpers in Macau who suffer from depression stands at 20 percent and 12 percent respectively.

According to the preliminary results of the study titled “Population Research Initiative for Domestic Employees – PRIDE Study,” these domestic workers are in a vulnerable position to suffer from mental illness due to their work-related exposures and current living conditions.

Conducted by the University of Macau’s Global and Community Mental Health Research Group and led by Brian Hall, a scholar and an associate professor at the University of Macau, the study surveyed 1,349 Filipino and 369 Indonesian domestic workers.

Hall presented the study yesterday at Caritas Macau to migrant workers and representatives from related government departments.

The study also showed that the median salary for Filipino and Indonesian domestic helpers are MOP3,700 and MOP4,000 respectively, showing that there are also still workers earning a meager MOP1,500 per month.

Since depression refers to a wide range of mental health problems, Hall explained that his team first did a qualitative study to define the needs in the community.

“A large population of domestic workers, about 80 percent [expressed] that mental health conditions and stress are one of their main problems: the key issue that needed to be intervened on here in Macau,” Hall told the press.

However, the issue is that the city does not have providers that are able deliver evidence based psychotherapy interventions in Filipino or Indonesian language.

“There’s an absence of providers in this context […] we don’t really have the treatment available,” he said.

Hall revealed that he is partnering with the World Health Organization to bring evidence-based therapy interventions to Macau that could be scaled to the entire population using automated mental health intervention.

Questioned whether such interventions can be conducted soon, Hall hoped, “within the next year, we should have a culturally adapted version of the mental health intervention.”

Raising awareness on the burden of mental disorder still remains a key issue.

The prevalence of mental disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and issues related to physical health that are not being addressed remains at 40 percent.

Along with the percentage of domestic helpers who are not provided with health insurance, Hall believed that it represents a clear picture that the health of domestic worker population is poor.

The “Population Research Initiative for Domestic Employees – PRIDE Study,” is the first data of its kind and the scholar hopes that the data could be used to persuade  the government to consider a more holistic and comprehensive approach regarding the matter.

Meanwhile the law states “employers are bound to transfer the liability to pay compensation under the terms of this Ordinance to insurers authorized to transact employees’ compensation insurance in the territory of Macau.”

The study showed that 38 percent of Indonesian domestic workers are unaware whether they are provided with insurance, while 15 percent do not have any, figures roughly similar with the interviewed Filipino domestic workers.

Only 8 percent are provided with medical insurance.

Yosa Wariyanti, president of the Indonesian Migrant Workers’ Union told the Times that domestic helpers are not demanding their employers to provide them with medical insurance due to fear of termination.

Wariyanti also agreed that migrant workers in Macau suffer from depression and anxiety due to constant fear of termination, household problems, and the difficulty adjusting to the local lifestyle.

“What was presented was based on the reality that happens amongst the Filipino and Indonesian migrant workers. The question is what happens after the research,” she said.

The migrant group president hoped that the study would become an eye-opener to the government in a bid to also give significance to their health issues.

General Secretary of Caritas Macau, Paul Pun, said that the Welanser Center has now employed more staff to provide direct services.

However, Pun expressed that in addition to running the center that provides activities and a problem solving network to the migrant workers they are also considering expanding its health services to these migrant workers, along with a mutual support program.

“With my understanding, people do need some more support because we have a big number of migrant workers. Some of them do need some kind of psychological support,” said Pun.

“Counseling is a basic [assistance] for them to live and work well in Macau.”

Pun to propose inclusion of domestic workers in minimum wage bill

General Secretary of Caritas Macau, Paul Pun, yesterday told the press that the minimum wage bill, which excludes domestic workers and disabled employees, should be reconsidered.

Pun believes that the bill, currently under a 45-day public consultation, should include domestic workers who are taking care of the elderly.

“For those taking care of these people, if a domestic worker is not doing this type of job, who is doing so?”, Pun questioned.

“The elderly will come to our centers and our homes for the aged. That means the government still needs to give additional resources to support them,” he suggested.

Pun noted that if the society cannot increase their salaries immediately, a “caring fund” should be established for families who have senior citizens with long-term sickness.

The fund would provide financial vouchers or financial support from the government that could be used to add to the salary of the domestic employees.

“Through this assessment, at least these [workers] will not be excluded. This is a way to do so. […] Shouldn’t they receive a minimum wage? They deserve it. They cannot sleep long hours [because they] work and stay with the [elderly],” Pun said.

Pun also suggested that domestic workers should be allowed to work for two families, with both families providing a quota for one domestic worker.

The secretary was referring to workers who are employed yet are not obliged to work for eight hours, thus receiving a meager wage.

Pun is set to submit a proposal before the 45-day public consultation ends.