Human Currency: Trading Freedom in Southeast Asia

I was recently reading an article in the Southeast Asia Globe titled the “Cambodian Maid Trade”.  In the past three years up to 25,000 Cambodian domestic workers  who are from impoverished rural communities have migrated to Malaysia following promises of a better future. But, the reality for these women and children is the risk of abuse at every step of the migration cycle. These Cambodian women and underage girls are paying for the chance of a better life.  Once they enter the country of Malaysia, the legal system provides them with little if no protection by the Malaysian government in the recruitment process and regulation of private agencies. According to Malaysia’s labor law, Cambodia’s domestic workers are defined as ‘domestic servant’s, and employment conditions are left to the discretion of the employer.  I realize at this point it gets quite graphic, and apologize if this becomes to blunt.  But as a result, Cambodia maids are routinely over-worked, physically abused, under-paid and burdened with inflated ’handling’ fees and debts.  The worst is that many of them are starved, exploited, and sexually assaulted by their employers according to Tenganita, an anti-human trafficking organization.

Up until recently, I had heard of these rumors and read of these cases. However, this past month at Mother’s Heart has been quite difficult for me.  We have recently taken into our program two young girls (one who is underage) who were sent back to Cambodia by their Malaysian employers. They are both pregnant as a result of sexual assault by their employer. One of them, who is 14 years old, has never been paid in the past two years since her employment as a maid.  My heart is so broken to actually see these women face to face and graphically hear their experiences. They are no longer stories I read on a piece of paper, but have become a reality in my everyday life as I see them come and go from our office as we help integrate them back into Cambodia.

These are the moments that I can say how truly humbled I am to work at Mother’s Heart. To be able to help these young girls is a great honor. Please pray that not only can we help them through their pregnancy, but we help walk with them to restore hope and love them as Christ loves each of us.  One of them began at one of our partner organization for vocational training this last week.

Tricia

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1