Employee in the spotlight

About our household help

Rizaline

"Many fellow Filipinos leave the Philippines to work abroad," Rizaline kicks off. "I too unwittingly - took that step 17 years ago, believing I would be able to build a better financial life for myself and my family.

However, as soon as I arrived in Jordan, all promises were broken. As a housekeeper for a wealthy family, I suddenly had to work seven days a week. Even the promised wage was never paid: I earned a measly two hundred dollars a month there. And I was treated like a slave, having to take care of the children day and night, cook, clean ... In five years’ time, I was not given a single day off. Yet I can consider myself lucky compared to many of my colleagues as I was not subjected to mistreatment."

"After five years, I managed to escape. I had been brooding on it for a while, but had to wait for the right moment.

When I accompanied the family on one of their holidays to Spain, they left me alone for a moment in a hotel lobby and I seized the opportunity. I walked out the hotel door and never looked back. I didn't know where to go, I didn't know anyone there and I didn't even have my passport. My employers held on to that for 'safekeeping'.

Those first few days I slept on the beach until I met a Filipino woman who took me in. She herself had fled from Saudi Arabia years ago. Thanks to the Filipino community, I was quickly able to work as a housekeeper for a British family, with a good salary this time.

After a while, I met a Belgian man, who was then temporarily working in Spain, and shortly afterwards my daughter Cassandra was born. Seven years ago, I moved to Belgium with him but the relationship did not last. We broke up two years ago and six months ago, he died suddenly and unexpectedly.

"Together with my daughter, and with the help of my mother-in-law, I am now trying to build a good life in Belgium. I followed additional training here, after which I could start working in a retirement home, as I wanted to start working as soon as possible.

However, because of its shift system, I had to look for another job as no one could take care of my daughter at night. A Filipino friend then recommended me to start working as a household help and that is how I eventually ended up with Dienstenaanhuis. This is where I feel at ease. They think in terms of their employees, the coordinators are always helpful and my working hours are determined with respect for my daughter's school hours and the Dutch classes I have been taking for five years now. In the morning I work, in the afternoon I usually take classes. It all goes smoothly. I don’t know what the future will bring but here in Belgium my daughter and I are happy now. And that's all that matters at the moment.”

A Filipino friend recommended me to start working als a household help and that is how I eventually ended up with Dienstenaanhuis. This is where I fit in!

Rizaline - household help

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