DMW to discuss with HK officials case of OFW who fell to her death while cleaning windows --- By GMA Integrated News

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople said she will discuss with Hong Kong authorities the case of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who fell to her death while cleaning the windows of her employer’s apartment. “Hindi siya under sa criminal law ng Hong Kong but again we will pursue all legal avenues,” Ople said in JP Soriano’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday. (This is not under the criminal law of Hong Kong but again we will pursue all legal avenues.) “Kakausapin ko rin ang aking counterpart, si Minister Sun [Yuk-han] ng Hong Kong, just to express our concern para sabihin din na hindi na dapat ito mangyari kasi malinaw naman na prohibited act ito,” she said. (I will also talk to my counterpart, Minister Sun of Hong Kong, just to express our concern and to say that this should not happen because it is clearly a prohibited act.) The OFW fell from the 18th floor of an apartment building while cleaning windows on Monday. “Dinala siya sa ospital pero unfortunately, she didn't make it no, and kausap ko yung kapatid niya kanina, si Jayson, we are arranging na makalipad yung kapatid as the representative of the family to Hong Kong,” Ople said. (She was taken to the hospital but unfortunately, she didn't make it, and I was talking to her brother Jayson earlier, we are arranging for her brother to fly as the representative of the family to Hong Kong.) Domestic helpers have been prohibited from window cleaning in Hong Kong since 2017. It was also stated in the provision of their standard employment contract that household service workers in Hong Kong were prohibited to go out just to clean the windows. If they must clean the windows, Ople said, “Dapat may grills yung bintana at hindi dapat nakalabas yung katawan ng worker kundi hanggang kamay lang. Pwede sanang hindi nangyari kung nasunod lang yung terms and conditions ng kontrata niya.” (The windows should have grills and the body of the worker should not be outside the window, only the hand. This would not have happened if the terms and conditions of the contract had been followed.) The DMW maintained that the employer is responsible for the incident even if it appears from the initial information that they were asleep when the incident occurred. The department said the employer is still responsible for the safety of her employee. “Wala na nga daw po [siya]. Kahit hindi ko siya tunay na anak sa totoo lang napalapit na ito mabuti sa pamilya ko,” the victim's mother, Adelaida Bautista, said. (They said she is gone. Even though she is not my real daughter, she became closer to my family.) According to the reports, the OFW was seen cleaning the windows of her employer’s apartment when she fell. Building staff saw the incident and reported it to the police. — Richa Noriega/BM, GMA Integrated News

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