Interview with Z* (Kuala Lumpur)

Z* is a recent domestic worker in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, currently working in the suburban development of Bandar Utama, Selangor, which is within the Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan area (approximately 30 minutes drive from City Center). Z* was a college graduate in Phillipines but was unable to find appropriate employment in Manila. Z* previously worked in a sardine factory before coming to Kuala Lumpur to work as a domestic worker. She has been working in the city for 3 years and have only recently been allowed to take her days off once a month. Because her days off are scarce, she talks about them with great joy and longing. She notes that she looks forward and plans her days off profusely days before the actual day to make full use of her time away from work. Z*'s employer is a Catholic and therefore, they bring her along to a Catholic Church on Saturdays, which she enjoys very much. Z* told of the government harassment of immigrant workers on Sundays. The Government Organization, R*, would target areas heavily frequented by foreign workers to inspect their travel and working documents in the country to ensure the legal status of workers. If the foreign worker do not carry her documents with her, she would be forced to board a "caged" like vehicle to the police station where her employer will "claim" her. The frequency of these incidents have caused alot of employers to disallow their domestic workers to take their day offs. While Filipino domestic workers are supposed to have one day off in a week, they were made to sign a different contract as that presented in Phillipines, forcing them to choose to accept a disadvataged contract or return home and bear the expenses of their travels without returns. Most Filipinos will choose to accept less than ideal conditions of work.

Besides the contract, Z* also detailed her activities on her Sunday. Like C*, she frequents St. John's church in the morning before moving on to the Kota Raya and the city center for entertainment and shopping. Z* was a singer and she would queue up in a Karaoke Box (economic version of Karaoke ) to relax. Her description describes the domestic workers need to find entertainment and kinship on their days off away from their employer's homes. The facility is located within close proximity to S & M and Kota Raya, which is the main meeting and consumption center for foreign domestic workers in Kuala Lumpur. Z* also describe their picnicking activities during special ocassions in the main Kuala Lumpur park, Lake Garden. The site is far from the current center of their activities therefore they will take a taxi or public transport to the area, bringing along food and entertainment.