Filipinos find a new way to earn extra pesos – as virtual assistants

Nathalie Mago’s work day begins after she’s tucked her three daughters into bed and flicked off the lights in their house north of the Philippine capital Manila.

As her young family sleeps, she fires up her laptop and begins discussing the day’s agenda with her boss – an American half a world away.

A “virtual assistant”, Mago is one of a growing number of Filipinos flocking to the booming but unregulated sector in the face of a tight job market, low wages and frequently hellish commutes.

“It literally saved me,” Mago said. “I was able to support myself and my family at the same time.”

A former office worker, the 32-year-old said she was earning five times as much serving as the “right hand” of employers for whom she writes copy, manages social media and even buys family birthday gifts.

Government figures for the sector are unavailable as the role falls into no recognised job category, meaning legal protections are also effectively non-existent.