The invisible plight of undocumented Filipino domestic workers in the Netherlands
It was only during the pandemic that society was forced to take a look. As the Netherlands faces the vulnerabilities of undocumented cleaners, will they also be granted recognition?
'We are trusted with the most precious thing there is, your homes and children, yet we are not allowed to be there.' Together Filipino journalist Michael Beltran and Dutch journalist Sarah Haaij explored the world of undocumented cleaning women.
Cleaners very much prefer to go unnoticed by the authorities. Likewise, Dutch society willfully tries to ignore them and the unseen troubles which are quite literally happening in their work behind closed doors.
For workers without proper papers that clean and sweep Dutch homes there is no work leave or social safety net. They are vulnerable to abuses such as underpayment, sexual abuse, labor exploitation, confinement, or homelessness.
© Sarah Haaij
