RESEARCH PROPOSAL PROPOSED TITLES The Lived Experiences of Filipino Domestic Workers in Hongkong : Identity and Opportunity INTRODUCTION

In August 2011, a Filipino domestic worker stunned Hongkong government and the world in asserting her right to permanent residency on the principle of basic labour right and equal application of laws. Her name is Evageline Banao Vallejos, an icon for domestic helpers in Hongkong with the ordeal of gaining permanent residency. Indeed, a fertile ground for study that will surely contribute to the fund of knowledge. This descriptive research may reveal peculiar conditions of employment in Hongkongs Filipino domestic worker. This undertaking makes possible the prediction of the future on the basis of findings on prevailing conditions, correlations and on the basis of reactions of respondents towards certain issues employment relations. Thus, necessary remedial measures may be instituted. It intends to explore the status labour experiences by Filipino domestic helper in Hongkong. Primarily, it seeks to ask the question how are the Filipino domestic helpers who labor with blood, sweat and tears treated as part of the Hongkongs work force? Secondarily, given such condition, is there a roadmap going back home for these Filipino domestic helpers working in Hongkong? What are its determining factors? Finally, what should the organized Filipino domestic workers in Hongkong do if they want to survive and succeed in Hongkong? What are their best practices in the area of employment relations that are presently being engaged by Hongkong government?

In 2010 Hongkong employed with 170,000 domestic workers and 80 percent of that figure represents Filipino domestic workers. Hongkong, has one of the highest proportions of imported overseas domestic workers in the world. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY Although the Hongkong Special Administrative Region (Hongkong) is part of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC or China), Hongkong and China have fundamentally different legal systems with very different approaches to employment law. The Hongkong legal system is based on the English legal system, although with many Hong Kong characteristics. Hongkongs flexible employment law regime is generally considered to be one of Hongkongs selling points when foreign companies establish subsidiaries or offices in Asia. Hongkong employment law is generally western in influence, and favors a free market approach. The primary source of Hong Kong employment law is the Employment Ordinance. Notably, employers are mandated to pay the worker, to ensure a safe workplace, permit employees to take paid leave, take responsibility for employees actions, provide written employment agreements, and not to discriminate against employees. On the other hand, employees are mandated to work, obey instructions, ensure a safe working environment, and take care not to damage the employers property and equipment The modern global world provides labour force with many opportunities to move around but provides little support and protection for the foreign domestic workers. Thus, we should review the implementation of Hongkongs employment ordinance in the context of employment relation of Filipino domestic workers. This will prevent future magnitude of employment relations concerns, controversy, and remedy ill-adopted industrial relations systems, if any.

The gap of the missing information is how attitudes and feelings of Filipino domestic workers concerning the implementation of labour laws and the recognition of their rights as workers. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH This research aims to contribute to the development of Hongkongs domestic help labour sector human resources. It shall help fashion Human Resource tools. Specifically, it seeks to enhance understanding on why Filipino domestic helper excel in their work in Hongkong while lurking in the shadows of permanent residency. Consequently, analyze the said perspectives in the context of employment relations in order to enable socio-economic and political policies. It intends to accomplish the above goal through the following research questions: 1. 2. 3. Are Filipino domestic workers protected and covered by the Hongkong Are Filipino domestic workers given equal treatment compared to other Is there a significant difference on the perspectives of Filipino domestic

employment ordinaces? and up to what extent? Explain. citizens and nationals, as well as other foreign workers in the country? Explain. helper working in an organized health establishment vis a vis those who are not organized or member of any union? 4. 5. What are the employment relations problems encountered by the Filipino Do Filipino domestic workers have a roadmap back home and what are domestic workers? the determining factors of this decision and roadmap? (Or absence of a roadmap). 6. What are the implications of these findings to socio-economic and political policies, particularly in the training and retention of Filipino domestic workers in Hongkongs employment relations? 7. What are the best employment relations practices experienced by Filipino

domestic workers? There are three measurable objectives of the study that can be attained by year 2012 this are, as follows: First, on the social aspect, the investigation shall benefit the research population by providing a model to excel and attain quality of work life by knowing that Employment Ordinances works well with them or by adopting other curative measure if said laws does not working well. Also, Hongkong policy makers will tremendously benefit from the study for the reason that the implication of Filipino domestic workers employment relations are geared towards the ultimate goal of improving Hongkong domestic helper employment policy delivery. Second, on the economic side, simply put as a happy worker will endeavor to make patient happy thereby raising higher standard of domestic helper labour that is excellent to the Hongkong domestic help needs. Third, in the political aspect, the study shall benefit the policy makers in Hongkong such as its Department of Labour and the Immigration Department. On global perspective, the investigation will result to a better society. It shall honestly reflect whether or not a problem or a labour catastrophe might erupt. Are we comfortable with the present Employment Ordinance a clear cut policy in governing employment relations of Domestic Workers for the next five years? Will it not result to beleaguered employment relations? The proposed investigation will extensively reduce the foreseeable problems associated with employment relations. As noted earlier, there has been no empirical study or research on the impact of Employment Ordinance on Filipino domestic helpers.

DEFINITION OF TERMS Roadmap a document that shows what, where and how will an activity be addressed and who is responsible for carrying-out a program or activity. Dunlopian Model- also known as Systems Theory by John T. Dunlop, he cites that there are 3 actors in Industrial Relations namely: workers, management, and government . RESEARCH DESIGNS I intend to interview stakeholders Hongkong Employment Ordinance specifically, on how this law impacted their work as domestic helpers. Data and Methods Primary data from this research will come from surveys that will be validated through interviews and focus groups of domestic helpers to solicit and assess the Filipino domestic helpers perspectives on current Hongkongs employment ordinance. Secondary data will come from ethnographic review of literature and related studies on the diaspora of Philippine Domestic Helper in Asia (especially Singapore), the Middle East, and Canada. A normative survey technique will be utilized. A structured questionnaire will be developed to inquire on the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of Filipino Domestic workers. In-depth focus groups will be conducted among groups of workers to further substantiate survey answers and to gather further insights. Key informant interviews will be conducted with employers, leaders of Filipino domestic workers association or organizations in Hongkong and key figures in the Philippine Labor that deal with Filipino migrant workers.

Standard test will be conducted and will be a good data source. This will force responses from the respondents which are indicative of respondents skills, knowledge and attitudes towards the execution of Hongkongs employment relations laws. Further, structured observation will be adopted considering that it concentrates on a particular aspect of the variable being observed such as behavior, condition or situation. So, the items to be observed are usually specified for standard tabulation. Also, observation is quantitative where results of the investigation can be checked and verified. Statistical Treatment of Data Qualitative or statistical research will be adopted considering that inference statistics are utilized to determine the result of the study. Inferential statistics such as correlation, chi-square, analysis or variance will be used to test hypothesis, if any. Most importantly, it will be available for comparison studies in the future. Sampling A stratified random sampling is to be use in the study, where samples from the different strata of population used in the study will be selected randomly. This is perfect considering that the population of the inquiry on Filipino domestic workers has class stratifications or groupings. Its advantage is that it contributes much to the representative ness of the sample. The proposed sample for the study is 300 for the surveys to be administered in person and via survey monkey. A total of five focus groups and ten (10) key informant interviews. Focus group participants will come from

Auckland. Key informant interviews may be conducted in-person or via videoconferencing using SKYPE. An Association of Filipino domestic workers in Hongkong may also be the sample of the study. It is proposed that members and non-members be interviewed alike; compare activities and success; and conclude if it is advantageous if a domestic worker is member of not. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

The study is concerned with the interaction of the components of Dunlops industrial relations Systems and show connections among Filipino domestic worker in Hongkong households. Using scientific method of objectivity so that variables such as age, sex, education and training shall not be manipulated and treating it with impartiality. Also, rigorous standards method by adopting the Dunlopian Industrial Relations Model.

ETHICAL REQUIREMENTS

In compliance to the ethical standards, the study will not undermine moral and work-related values of the respondent. It may in some displeasing scenario but it does not any change the present order of things by means of violence or bad taste. Interviews and focus groups have a similar process of consent. The consent will be formalized through a written agreement identifying the boundaries and extent of the permission to interview people. I would also get consent for audio and/or video recording of respondents, if necessary. The minutiae of ethical requirements including consent forms, participant information sheets, and schedule of questions will be addressed upon commencement of my research work.

FUNDING The applicant/researcher respectfully request funding via Hongkong Phd Fellowship Scheme to finance the investigation and pay relevant bills until his study is completed. That budget allocation came from the personal fund of the researcher. TIMELINE
Activity Full proposal Literature review Methodology Data gathering Data analysis Conclusion and implications Introduction Amendments and revisions Total (excluding proposal) 7000 20,000 15,000 20,000 15,000 5,000 75,000 (approx. 190 pages) Words Duration (Months) 2 months 4 months 4 months 5 months 4 months 3 months 1 month 1 month 24 months (3 years)

REFERENCES Awad, I. (2009). The Global Economic Crisis and Migrant Workers. Geneva. Retrieved from http://www.ilo.org/public/english/support/lib/resource/subject/migration. Barker, G. (1997). An Economic Analysis of Trade Unions and the Common Law.

Aldershot: Avebury. Bell, D. (1972). Three Technologies: Size, Measurement, Hierarchy, Design of Jobs. Eds. Louis E. Davis and James C.Taylor. England: Penguin Books. Castillo, M. (n.d.) Caring in the Diaspora: Filipino Immigrants, Healthcare, Healing Religion. Retrieved from http://www.hds.harvard.edu/cswr/resources/print/rhb/reports/13.Castillo.pd f. Davis, L. (1972). Readying the Unready." Design of Jobs.Eds. Louis E. Davis and James C.Taylor. England: Penguin Books. Department of Labour and Employment. (1999). ILO Conventions and Philippine Laws. Manila, Philippines: International Labour Affair Office. Dunlop, J. (1958). Industrial Relations Sytems. USA: Southern Illinois University Press. Fairwork Act 2009. Retrieved from http://www.fwa.gov.au/index.cfm?pagename=legislationfwact Khan, A. (1997). Philippines: Employment in Globalizing and Liberalizing World. Bangkok: ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. Levine, D. (1995). Reinventing the Workplace: How Business & Employee Can Both Win. Washington D.C.: Brooking Institute. Lim, P. (1992). Structural Adjustment in the Philippines & Their Effects. Philippine Labour Review. Manila: ILMS. Vol. 16 No. 1. January-June.

Mc Coy, A. (2000). Lives at the Margin: Biography of Filipinos, Obscure, Ordinary, and Heroic Quezon City: ADMU Press. Productivity and Development Center. ((1999). Criteria for Performance Excellence and Application Guidelines, Pasig City: DAP. Taylor, F. (1947). Scientific Management. New York: Harper & Row. Workplace Relations Amendment of 2006. Retrieved from http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/wraca2005418/