宋秋平 Song Qiu Ping worked in an electronic factory in Singapore for two years before returning to her native Zhengzhou, Henan. For her first stint, she paid a local agent 20,000RMB for the right to work here. A mother of two, the 31-year-old paid another 30,000RMB earlier this year to become a house cleaner. She has been cleaning our place twice a week for the past six months. In Zhengzhou, it is hard for women to earn a decent salary. At most, I can earn up to 1200RMB (S$250) per month. I can earn up to 6000RMB per month now in Singapore. Only one of us can leave China as someone needs to look after our two children, so my husband stays. I spend about S$350 a month in Singapore, and that includes my rent, my phone, travel and food. I send all the remainder home. I dont have a choice. Home for her in Singapore is a room she shares with five other Mainland Chinese. The other two rooms in the flat are also rented out and close to 20 men and women share it. Next March, 秋平 will reach her one year mark in her new cleaning contract. She is thinking about going back to China for a short visit. I can afford the airfare but there are other expenses to look after. Going back usually means having to buy gifts for all the relatives so there is no real reason to. Might as well save the money.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 05:53:07 +0000
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