Welfare policy for domestic workrs in ho chi minh city a case study in tan binh district

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS, HO CHI MINH CITY FULBRIGHT ECONOMICS TEACHING PROGRAM NGUYEN THU HA WELFARE POLICY FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS IN HO CHI MINH CITY, A CASE STUDY IN TAN BINH DISTRICT Public Policy Major Code: 603114 MASTER OF PUBLIC POLICY THESIS ADVISOR Dr JONATHAN R PINCUS HO CHI MINH CITY - 2011 CONTENTS CERTIFICATION i ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ii ABSTRACT iii ABBREVIATIONS .iv LIST OF FIGURES .v LIST OF TABLES vi CHAPTER - INTRODUCTION 1.1 Problem statement 1.2 Research questions of the study 1.3 The object, scope and purpose of the study 1.4 Research Methods 1.5 The structure of the study CHAPTER - LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Relevant Concepts 2.2 Theoretical background 2.2.1 Demand for domestic workers in Vietnam .6 2.2.2 Supply of domestic workers in Vietnam 2.2.3 Theoretical background 2.3 Empirical studies .8 2.3.1 The number of domestic workers all over the world 2.3.2 The situation of domestic workers 10 2.3.3 Policies to protect the rights of domestic workers 11 2.4 Conclusion 12 CHAPTER - RESEARCH METHODS 13 3.1 The purpose of the survey .13 3.2 Subjects of the survey 13 3.3 Survey sample size and sampling methods 14 3.3.1 Sample size .14 3.3.2 Methodology 14 3.4 Data collection instruments 14 3.5 Limitations of the survey method 15 CHAPTER - SURVEY RESULTS .17 4.1 Characteristics of domestic workers .18 4.1.1 Gender of DWs .18 4.1.2 Age of DWs 18 4.1.3 Education 19 4.1.4 Family status 20 4.1.5 How DWs find jobs 21 4.1.6 Years working as domestic worker 22 4.2 DWs’ current job 23 4.2.1 Domestic chores 23 4.2.2 Working hours 24 4.2.3 Length of doing the current job 26 4.2.4 Working conditions 26 4.2.5 Income and expenditure 28 4.2.6 Health and Medical Care 30 4.2.7 Days off, leisure time and entertainment activities 32 4.2.8 Relationship with employers 33 4.2.9 Social contact 35 4.3 Legal awareness of DWs 36 4.4 Dishonesty of DWs .36 4.5 Conclusion 37 CHAPTER - DISCUSSION 38 5.1 Irregular working hours 38 5.2 Problems adopting labor contracts 39 5.3 It is difficult to control issues relevant to DWs 40 5.3.1 Exploitation of domestic workers 40 5.3.2 Employers’ risks .41 5.3.3 The existence of child labor 41 5.4 “This is not a big problem” 42 5.5 Asymmetric information 42 5.6 Lack of the participation of labor unions in protecting DWs 43 5.7 Legal protections for domestic workers 44 5.8 Conclusion 44 CHAPTER - POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS 46 6.1 Recommendations for employers 46 6.2 Recommendations for the Government 46 6.2.1 Support for establishing companies that provide domestic service 46 6.2.2 Issue the Decree guiding domestic services 47 6.2.3 Strengthen propaganda and education to improve legal awareness of laborers and employers 47 6.2.4 Establish Unions to protect DWs 47 CHAPTER - CONCLUSION .49 7.1 Conclusion 49 7.2 Limitations and distributions of the study 50 REFERENCES 51 APPENDIX 55 i CERTIFICATION I certify that I wrote this thesis myself I certify that the study has not been submitted for any other degrees I certify that any help received and all sources used have been acknowledged in this thesis with the best of my knowledge The study does not necessarily reflect the views of the Ho Chi Minh City Economics University or Fulbright Economics Teaching Program Author Nguyen Thu Ha ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to express my deep gratitude to my parents and brother who always encourage me in my life, my studying and my career I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my advisor, Dr Jonathan R Pincus, for the continuous support of my study With rich knowledge, experiences, patient, motivation and enthusiasm, his guidance helped me in all the time of research and writing of this thesis Besides my advisor, I am grateful to Ms Dinh Vu Trang Ngan for thoughtful and valuable comments on the survey and the early version of my work I would like to thank to all teachers, librarians, laboratory assistants in Fulbright Economics Teaching Program, who have helped and retransmitted a lot of their knowledge and experience to me I am indebted to many of my relatives, classmates and friends in class MPP3 who supported me to conduct the survey This thesis would not have been possible without their assistances Last but not least, I would like to thank to all my friends, especially Ms Nguyen Thi Thuy Giang, Mr Ta Viet Bac, Mr Duong Tuan Anh, Ms Nguyen Huong Giang, Ms Dang Thi Tuyet Nhung, Ms Ngo Hai Thanh, Ms Vo Thi Hoang Oanh, Ms Nguyen Thi Hong Loan, and Ms Bui Thi Phuong Thao who helped and motivated me in performing the study Nguyen Thu Ha Ho Chi Minh City – April, 2011 iii ABSTRACT This study analyzes practical issues about domestic workers in Ho Chi Minh City, which is based on the theory that domestic workers today are working in bad working condition with low wages, long working hour and face a range of exploitation, abuse, vulnerability and discrimination We conducted a survey to examine the situations of domestic workers in Tan Binh District of Ho Chi Minh City We figured out that in this district the exploitation, discrimination and sexual abuse exist but is not common And because of asymmetric information, employers become victims of dishonest domestic workers when they hire them The market still lacks companies that offer trusted domestic workers and organizations who act to protect domestic worker welfare Therefore, the effective policy recommendations to better these situations are issuing realistic laws to control this market accompanied by actions to implement it such as strengthening the propaganda and education activities in poor areas, supporting the establishment of domestic service companies, and the role of the Women’s Unions in propaganda to change perceptions of both workers and employers Key words: Domestic workers, exploitation, abuse, vulnerability, discrimination, domestic service companies, Women’s Union iv ABBREVIATIONS DWs : Domestic workers HCM C : Ho Chi Minh City : National Institution of Statistic NIS : The International Labor Organization ILO : Tan Binh District TBD : The United States of America USA v LIST OF FIGURES Figure 4-1: Gender of DWs .18 Figure 4-2: Number of DWs in groups of age 19 Figure4-3: Highest certificate of education of DWs 20 Figure 4-4: Family status of domestic workers .21 Figure 4-5: Job status of domestic workers' spouses .21 Figure 4-6: Years working as domestic workers 22 Figure 4-7: The length that domestic workers the current job 26 Figure 4-8: Health of DWs in the sample 30 vi LIST OF TABLES Table 1-1: Subjects of the study Table 3-1: Subjects of the survey 13 Table 4-1: How DWs are recruited 21 Table 4-2: Number of DWs provided work by a domestic worker supplier in the past 22 Table 4-3: Works in day of domestic workers 24 Table 4-4: Working hours of domestic workers .25 Table 4-5: Working conditions of DWs 27 Table 4-6: Meals of DWs 27 Table 4-7: Income of DWs in the sample 28 Table 4-8: Expenditure of DWs in the sample 29 Table 4-9 : Reward for DWs on Tet holiday 29 Table 4-10: Bosses' treatment when DWs get ill .30 Table 4-11: Person who pays DWs medical expense 31 Table 4-12: Medical Insurance with DWs .31 Table 4-13: Agree with one day off in a week 32 Table 4-14: Activities of DWs at rest time 32 Table 4-15: How DWs use the telephone 35 61 VII 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 7.10 VIII 8.1 WORKING FACILITY Do you stay in your employer's house? 1=Yes (skip to ques 7.3) If not, does your employer pay for your acc 1=Yes Do your employer register temporary resid 1= No 2= As a relative Do you get meals at your workplace? 1=Yes How many meals each day you receive? 0=Uncertain 2=Twice/day 4=More than times/day How is your meal? 1= With employers 3= Eat the leftover food of employers Have you ever been interrupt when sleeping 1= Yes Did you ever experience one of these accid 1=Be scalded 3=Fell from stair 5=Splashed by hot water 7=Hot cooking-oil 9=Splashed by sharp object 0=Have never experienced Did anyone help you when you were in suc 1=No one 3=Neighbors Did you ever experience one of these accid 1=Fear 3=Anxiety 5=Loss of appetite LIVING CONDITION Where you often sleep? 0=your own bed room 2=Kitchen 4=Outside house 5=With the children/person whom you take car 6= Motorcycle garage 8= With other workers at working room 9= With other workers at DWs' room 8.2 8.3 How many people sleep with you in that sp 1=Alone Bed facilities? 1=On the floor, without mat 62 IX 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 9.9 9.10 X 3=On the bed, without mat 5=On the bed, without mattress 6=On the bed, with mattress INCOME How much is your salary per month? Enter amount of money, of not enter "0" th How your employers pay your salary? 1=Every month, directly to you 2=Kept by employers but may be claimed 3=Kept by employers but can only be claim 4=Paid regularly to parents 5=Paid regularly to service suppliers 6=Uncertain Who receive your salary in part or full? 0=Kept all for yourself 2=Parents, all 4=Employers, all Do you receive any extra money from your 1=Frequently 3=Never (skip to ques 9.6) When you receive that extra money? 1=When employers have fun Beside monthly salary, you receive anyt employer? 1=Soap 4=Shower cream 7=Clothes Do your employer give for free on tradition 1=Nothing 3=Sweets Do you often have to borrow money? 1= Yes What using purpose of your loan? 1=Buying personal implement 3=For studying Where you often get loan? 1=Employers 3=Neighbors/friends/relatives 5=Vietnam Agribank RELATIONSHIP WITH EMPLOYERS Have you ever experience these problem? 10.1 1=Advised/warned 3=Abused with harsh/vulgar words 5=Beaten by objects 6=Sexually violent by your employment fa 63 How did you response to such treatment? 1=Just stay still 3=Fought back 5=Complained with neighbor 6=Report to 7=Others Who should be blamed for that? 1=You did something wrong 2=Employer mean to that Do you think you compulsory for that? 10.2 10.3 10.4 1=Yes Who often has incorrect treatment with you 1= The husband 3= The child How was your react? 1=Do nothing 3= Complaint with parents or friend How often did those actions repeat? 10.6 10.8 10.9 XI 1= Usually SOCIAL RELATIONSHIP Is it necessary to have a contract between y 11.1 1=Yes Why not? Do you know any information about provid and Medical Insurance? 1=Yes Do you want to get social insurance? 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.5 12.1 XII 12.2 12.3 1=Yes Why don't you want to get have Social Insu 1=Don't care 2=Using MI card is not comfortable 3=Don't have enough money to afford 4=Don't have residence Do you gather in activities of these institut 1=Youth Union 3=Union Do you intend to this job for a long time 1= Yes CARREER DEVELOPMENT What your life will be in the next 10 years? Do you study many new things when doing 1= Yes 12.4 12.5 How you grade this job? 1= Very boring 3= Acceptable Do you introduce any other one to the s 1= Yes 64 20 Appendix 2: Questionnaire for Employers UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS, HO CHI MINH CITY FULBRIGHT ECONOMICS TEACHING PROGRAM Interviewer: Nguyễn Thu Hà Class: MPP2 Questionnaire DOMESTIC WORKER SURVEY IN HO CHI MINH CITY Form 2: Questionnaire for Heads of Household Ques STT I EMPLOYERS’ INFORMATION 1.1 Where is your hometown? 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 II 2.1 2.2 How many people are there in your hou Your job? Where your household members usu Medicare treatment when they are sick? None medical Traditional healer Private clinic-hospital Public hospital Buy some medicine Others What you know about regulations re employ domestic workers? How you perceive domestic workers As part of the family As cheap labor As low respected occupa Others PERCEPTION ABOUT DOMESTIC How many domestic workers you em None n Enter the number of domestic worke Please enter name, age of your domesti 20 This questionnaire is refered from the questionnaires in survey about DWs in Phnompenh: “Child Domestic Workers survey in Phnompenh 2003, Cambodia” of National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning of Cambodia in collaboration with ILO-IPEC 65 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 If "No" in question 2.1, who these works i household? Cooking Washing dishes Washing/Ironing clothes Cleaning the house Looking after children/the elderly/the sick Assisting for household Others How did you find and employ these current d workers? Through suppliers Through relatives By own self By neighbors Employee find your hou Which way you employ domestic workers Full-time, staying in you Full-time, none-staying Part-time What your domestic workers receive for compensation of their works? Only get salary Stay at your house with Stay at your house, eat w salary Stay at your house, eat w go to school an you pay the school fee Others How many times have you changed domestic over the last years? And why? Do you have a labor contract with your dome workers? Yes, verbally Yes, in writing No If "Yes" in 2.8, with whom you make such contract/agreement? Domestic workers Domestic workers' paren Domestic workers' Supp Others 66 What you often when your domestic w get sick? = Never sick 1=Instructed to take a rest (not working) and 2.10 care 2= Continue working and medical care 3= Instructed to take a rest and no medical ca 4=Continue working and no medical care 5=Instructed to go back to hometown If you don't satisfy with what domestic worke what you do? 1.Give more construction and tell them mo 2.11 carefully Fire them immediately Scold, hit but force them 2.12 2.13 2.14 If your domestic workers is not honest, what with them? Give them the sack imm Announce to the commu Other Do you agree with the proposed some days of domestic workers? No Yes If "Yes", give reasons? According to the law To have private for your Others 2.15 If "No", why? What is a good regulation about day-off for d 2.16 workers, which can ensure the benefit for bot family and the domestic worker? Do you allow your domestic workers attend school/training course? 2.17 No Yes If "Yes", why? Compensation on work 2.18 It's better for his/her future 2.19 If "No", why? Training his/her to work 67 2.20 2.21 What the other supports you give to your d workers so that they can attend school/course None Money Education supplies Others How often and when your domestic worke outside? 2.22 For what they go? How long you allow your domestic worke 2.23 for? Do you agree with the proposed buying Medi Insurance and Social Insurance for your dome workers? No need That what domestic wor 2.24 themselves Buy for domestic worke part of it Give money to domestic themselves Your opinion about registering temporary resi domestic workers No need and don't regist 2.25 No need but still register Register as relative Register as domestic wo Others Your opinion about having lob our contract in with domestic workers? No need (only verbal ag 2.26 Don't want to be bound It's good for both Others THANK YOU! 68 21 Appendix 3: Questionnaire for Ward Officials UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS, HO CHI MINH CITY FULBRIGHT ECONOMICS TEACHING PROGRAM DOMES F Department: Order Estimated number of househ Estimated number of DWs in Estimated number of CDWs Estimated number of DWs w Social Insurance? What is the most popular sta residence of DWs in the hou 2 3 Not be regist Registered a How you intervene in wh DWs and employers? Do nothing b Intervene in Others Do you have many difficultie No problem There is no l Others Please comment on DWs sta The employm Working Income Career prosp Please give recommendation About Medic Working hou Day-off Working Labor contra Basis for sett Regulation a Others 21 This questionnaire is refered from the questionnaires in survey about DWs in Phnompenh: “Child Domestic Workers survey in Phnompenh 2003, Cambodia” of National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning of Cambodia in collaboration with ILO-IPEC 69 Appendix 4: Consent form UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS, HO CHI MINH CITY FULBRIGHT ECONOMICS TEACHING PROGRAM Informed consent form for participation in research Researcher: Nguyen Thu Ha Title of the Study: Welfare policy for domestic workers in Ho Chi Minh City, a case study in Tan Binh District Study sites: Inner districts of Ho Chi Minh City Subjects of the survey: Domestic workers Purpose: The objective of this survey is to collect data to perform the Master thesis in Public Policy of Fulbright Economics Teaching Program - University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City Confidentiality: We pledge that all information collected from this survey are used to prove the arguments in the study We will not reveal personal information of any individuals or organizations Questions: If you have any questions about this research, please feel free to contact Nguyen Thu Ha at Fulbright Economics Teaching program, tel: 0903.423.984 Email: m2.hant@fetp.vnn.vn Advisor of the researcher: Dr Jonathan R Pincus, e-mail: jonathan.pincus@fetp.vnn.vn Voluntary Participation: Please understand that your participant is voluntary You not have to participate if you not wish to so You may also stop at any time or skip any question that you not wish to answer If you agree to participate in this research study, please sign below You will be given a copy of this form for your records and receive a small gift for your participation in this survey Participant Signature _ Ho Chi Minh City, Date……………… Enumerator Signature _ Ho Chi Minh City, Date………………… ... relationship could last for a long time From an interview with Ms Quang (not her real name), a DW in Tan Binh District, February 2011 From an interview with one ward official in Tan Binh District, ... From an interview with Mrs Han (not her real name), an employers in District Tan Binh, March 2011 From an interview with Mrs Hoa (not her real name), a DW in District Tan Binh, December 2010 36 In. .. groups have the same traits including origins in rural areas, and lacking in skills (Ngoc Bao, 2010) DWs are almost all women who want to escape from poverty and who come from rural areas (WIEGO,