Yesterday I had successfully lined up three potential new cleaners for interview. All had agreed on the working hours and pay, so it was just a matter of us meeting and them having a look at the apartment.

Candidate number two was from the Philippines. She was lovely and had a fantastic reference from someone who is still employing her part time, so I could even check it out (unlike the others). She told me that her daughter was coming over in September.
“Oh that’s nice. How old is your daughter?”
“She’s fourteen.”
“So is she coming to visit or to stay with you?” I asked thinking that fourteen was a difficult age to be changing schools, and wondering which school she would go to here as I don’t imagine that any school here, other than the outrageously expensive, is better than those in the Philippines.
“She’s coming here,” candidate number two said giggling, “I’ll give her to you!”
“Ha ha!” I laughed back.
I showed her the rest of the apartment and then we sat down to chat.
“So,” I said, reiterating what I’d said on the phone, “The hours and pay are acceptable to you?”
“Yes, Madame,” candidate number two replied, “I work for the other lady on Saturdays and have another part time job during the week.”
“Oh, that’s a lot of work. Are you sure you will be able to manage it all?”
“Oh yes, it’s not a problem, Madame, my daughter will come in September.”
“Hmm? Your daughter will come here with you?”
“Yes, she needs a job, so she can work here.”
“I’m to be involved in child labour?” I thought. Luckily she continued, “She’s not got experience yet, so she needs to get some cleaning. I think this would be good.”
“I’m sorry,” I said apologetically, thankful that I hadn’t interrupted earlier, “but I’ve had problems with inexperienced people before, so right now I’m specifically looking for someone with a lot of experience. I don’t think that your daughter will be good for me.”
“Ah. Ok Madame. That’s a shame.”
“Yes, but I think it’s good that we both know where we stand from the beginning. It’s better that we are clear about what we want so we both don’t run into problems later.”
“Very true Madame. Ok. Thank you for seeing me.”
She amicably left.

I have no working experience with the Philippines, but Filipino maids are famous. All the Filipino women I interviewed for cleaning had a lot of family back in the Philippines that they were supporting, most of whom they were supporting through university. The reason that this fourteen year old was coming to Egypt was because she was going to be supporting her siblings too. A future sacrificed for siblings: such a common tale in developing countries. Somewhat shocking for us in the West, who get free education or repayment mechanisms that at least allow us the option of going to university, the thought of sacrificing our education so a younger brother or sister can have one instead.

Then I started feeling doubly bad. By not employing this girl, I was possibly denying someone the opportunity of going to university.

But child labour is child labour and by employing her, perhaps her neighbour’s daughter, or one or her friends would be sent away somewhere to clean so her sibling(s) could have an education too.

It’s not fair, but I can’t make it worse.