SG OFWs mixed on cleaning robots; but humans still better than bots

Overseas Filipino workers in Singapore have mixed reactions on the introduction of "cleaning robots" in the host country.

Some 300 cleaning robots that can sing, rap, wink, crack jokes, and speak in Singapore’s four official languages were deployed in the country on July 17.

“Can they do laundry and dishes? I doubt,” Hansen Sy, 43, real estate property agent in Singapore, said in an interview through Messenger on August 26.

“[Cleaning robots] will take a while to have a major impact on the number of HSWs. This will only replace the manpower for local cleaning companies, which normally comes from Malaysia and not the Philippines,” the administrator of “Samahang Filipino sa Singapore” added, referring to household service workers (HSWS).

In Sy’s estimate, there are about 70,000 to 80,000 HSWs in Singapore. He is currently employing one and paying $700 per month, he said.

“HSWs do more than cleaning, like they also cook, take care of the elderly and children. For as long as HSWs are affordable for the local Singaporeans, they will always be there as there are hundreds of other jobs that robots cannot do for now.”

The administrator of the Filipino Community Singapore, on the other hand, regards the cleaning robots a “good thing.”

“New technology helps us make our work easier and live comfortable life. In fact, we already have mini-robots like robot-vacuum cleaner. It makes our house cleaner with minimal effort,” James, 49, an engineer in a government agency in Singapore, said in an interview through Messenger on August 26.

“James” employs an HSW, too, whom he pays $500. Still, cleaning robots are “not a good choice for household help,” said Rosemarie Cayabyab.

“Robots have no compassion, no feelings, and no emotion. So, how can they perform what a human can do? Like changing baby's diaper or even the elderly? As a caregiver, I really don't think robots can replace us. Robots [just] have a specified task and it's impossible for them to do everything a human can do,” the 53-year-old caregiver for more than two decades pointed out in an interview on Messenger on August 27.

Cayabyab has been a caregiver in Taiwan and Hong Kong as well.

“I think they can be useful in shopping malls, business establishments, schools, something like that. Actually, I've already seen one in Jewel Changi Airport. The robot keep walking while cleaning the floor, and talking also,” she added, referring to the nature-themed entertainment and retail complex on the land-side of Changi Airport.

Household service workers Jho Salac, 35, and Rhodora Lapaz, 36, are also confident that robots cannot replace them.

“Robots can’t cook, take care, or look after kids/aged person,” said Salac in an interview via Messenger in August 27.

They cannot also be trusted with babies.

“Do you think [Singaporeans] would trust a robot to take care of a baby? While they are far away working from 6 am to 9 pm in a day? It’s OK if you’re not a working mom but usually Singaporeans are so hardworking [that] they cannot live a day without working. Even on weekends, they are still working. Even they are so old, they are still working as long as they can do a job,” said Lapaz in an interview through Messenger on August 28. —LBG, GMA News