Is it wrong for Westerners living in poor countries to hire local "servants"?

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4-16-2008 @ 7:57PM

Raf said...

Here in the Philippines, it is customary for even middle class Filipinos to hire a "katulong" (help) to help with the cooking and cleaning.

When I first got here to live with them, I was uncomfortable, having grown up in the US, to have what I saw as someone cleaning up after me & having to cook for me. I was taught the usual American value of self-reliance. But my extended family here told me that it's a local custom here.

In addition to paying her, as Chris mention, my aunt has "adopted" our help's children and has helped to pay for their clothes, medical needs, & schooling into the University level. My cousins call her "tita" (aunt) and treat her kids as cousins. In effect, not only are you helping whoever who hire as help, you are helping the next generations so that they won't have to.

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