Freelance Karaoke girls work for free, rely on tips

 

PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) -- “I have to stand in front of many eyes to be picked up by men who come here to entertain themselves,” said a Karaoke girl.

It is common in Cambodia when a group of men enter a room of a Karaoke club, girls would be brought into the room for them to pick up.

Sophea has been working as a Karaoke girl for more than 2 years. She chooses to be a freelance Karaoke girl who works for free but rely on tips given by the customers as her earning.

She explained that she decided to work as a freelance Karaoke girt instead of full-time Karaoke girl because she can have more freedom and is not subject to fine imposed by the Karaoke Club when she could not manage her time to work.

“I know that those who are formally recruited will be subject to a usual fine of USD 5 to 10 if they are absent from work for a day or two. However, as a freelance Karaoke girl, I am not subject to that kind of fine and more importantly I have more freedom,” said Sophea, a mother of 4-year girl.

A Karaoke girl can earn salary of USD 50 per month in average. This means that if a full-time Karaoke girl is absent for five days, she cannot claim her salary anymore as her fine reaches the amount of her salary already.

“Usually, I am busy taking care of my 4 year-old daughter at home, and when she asked me about my job at night time, I always hide and only tell her that I go to work,” said Sophea, adding that it is common that the Karaoke girls feel ashamed to tell people about their jobs as many Cambodians think that Karaoke girls are not good enough and may be involved in sex business.

At night, it is time to dress up and make up, and Sophea has to spend USD 2.5 to USD 5 to pay for the makeup fee.

“My daily earnings depend on tips that I receive from my guests. Luckily, I have never been back home empty-handed,” she said.

In the Karaoke clubs in Phnom Penh, the tip is USD5 at minimum and for some men, they may give more, based on their kindness and their satisfaction of the services. 

“Although, sometimes I was forced to drink much and despite having health problem, I have to drag myself to work otherwise I will be short of money to cover my daily expenses and house-renting fee,” said Sophea.

Nary is another girl who has the same job as Sophea’s since she was 15. She has been working to support her parents. Nary is a former factory worker at a garment factory near Phnom Penh International Airport.

With tears in hear eyes, Nary described her difficult life.

“Because my mother has a serious disease, I need to make money to pay for her medical treatment in Viet Nam,” said Nary.

“I encountered a number of difficulties which include my initial ignorance of what I do there, and my first time to drink alcohol. I could get easily drunk with a few cans of beer. Gradually, I get used to drinking alcohol. If I can’t drink, I will not be asked to sit with guests, and worse than that I will get blamed. After repeated drinking, I had trouble with my stomach.”

- See more at: http://www.thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=14&token=MDE1MmZjZTM1Y2Q#sthash.UNGHYGxm.dpuf