Mother of two living under the shadow of a pandemic
The interview ended at 5.30pm. Though her residence was just around the corner, the Filipino domestic worker decided to call a Grab car for fear of bumping into the police if she walked home.
Malaysiakini met Joey (not her real name) on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the movement control order (MCO) and its numerous variants due to the Covid-19 pandemic...
The interview ended at 5.30pm. Though her residence was just around the corner, the Filipino domestic worker decided to call a Grab car for fear of bumping into the police if she walked home.
Malaysiakini met Joey (not her real name) on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the movement control order (MCO) and its numerous variants due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The past year has been nothing short of a struggle for the 34-year-old mother of two, who is now an undocumented migrant after working in Malaysia since 2015 with valid documents.
Last March, her former expatriate employer told her to stock food in the house as there would be a two-week lockdown.
Back then, Joey thought the lockdown would only last for two weeks but soon after, she and her husband Afreno (not his real name) lost their jobs.
For the next two months, the couple had no income and were unable to pay rent or purchase food and other basic necessities.
A helping hand then came from the Filipino community and NGOs such as Our Journey, which prevented the pair and their children, aged six and one, from ending up on the streets.
After the MCO was relaxed in May, Joey resumed working for her former employer. However, fate soon dealt another blow.
The firm that her expatriate employer was attached to had its business affected due to the pandemic and the employer had to return home to Argentina.
Joey lost her job again. And by default, she became an undocumented migrant as well.
According to the Immigration Act, once the permit of a migrant worker is cancelled, his or her presence in Malaysia is unlawful.
New job, lower salary
Joey now works for her former boss' neighbour but is forced to tighten her belt and household expenditure.
“My previous salary was RM2,300, now I am paid RM1,200. But my workload is still the same,” she rued.
When she had proper documents, Joey would work until 5pm but now, she needs to leave by 3pm to catch a bus home before peak hours to avoid the police.
Losing her work permit has forced Joey to limit her travels as well.
“For us as foreigners, sometimes we are homesick. You know, one whole week you are at work, so you must enjoy yourself for one day, so we go to Kota Raya or KLCC (to meet friends). But now we can’t do that.
“I just come out to buy food,” she said, adding that she has also not been to church for more than a year.
The situation has taken a toll on the children as well, especially her one-year-old daughter who has spent most of her time at home since she was born.
“When I bring her out or if she sees other kids in the playground, she becomes scared. If I put her down, she will start crying,” she added.
With her income slashed, Joey, whose husband does not live with her since securing a new job in another place, said she is unable to buy clothes or even the same amount of food as before.
“Before MCO, we could buy cabbages and carrots, now we can only afford cabbages.
“If I buy a whole chicken, I need to think how to divide and eat it for one week,” she added.
According to Joey, she was also forced to settle for a cheaper milk powder for her infant daughter, who then suffered from a spell of diarrhoea.
Helping her family in the Philippines
Struggling to make ends meet here, Joey revealed that she has to also take care of her family back in the Philippines.
She said her parents are too old to work and rely on her to buy their medication.
Things took another turn for the worse when her nephew was hospitalised after contracting tuberculosis.
After sending money for her nephew, Joey was left with RM200 for a whole month and she had to borrow money from her employer.
“I took an advance but I won't have enough salary at the end of the month, I need to ensure my kids have enough food,” she added.
Joey is also concerned about her eldest daughter's education and if she would be able to start school next year.
“I keep looking for a school that she can enrol in. I can pay for school fees, but not so much, perhaps RM300 monthly, but private schools cost a lot,” she added.
Before the pandemic, Joey had planned to send her daughters back to the Philippines and her former employer promised to pay for the airline tickets.
“We were waiting for the embassy to give the passports for my daughters. Now the passports are ready, but the Covid-19 pandemic is here.
“I think we need to stay here for a while longer, we are just waiting for Covid-19 and the MCO to end.
“I will then go back with my children while my husband stays here. It is safer this way, one of us can remain and earn money. Perhaps, I will come back to work in a year or two,” she added.
For those like Joey, the government's promise that “nobody would be left behind” rings hollow.
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