PHL labor officials raise OFW placement fee issue with HK officials
Philippine labor officials have met with their counterparts in Hong Kong to address the issues involving the placement fees for overseas Filipino workers heading there as household service workers (HSWs).
In a statement on Wednesday, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the discussion focused on the need for both sides to cooperate in addressing the concerns of Filipino HSWs.
"Their discussion focused on the need to cooperate with each other in addressing the concerns of Filipino household service workers in Hong Kong, particularly on placement fee issues and workers' complaints against their employers," she said.
Heading the Philippine side were Philippine Labor Attaché Manuel Roldan and Consul General Bernardita Casalla.
Meeting them were Hong Kong Commissioner Donald Tong, Deputy Commissioner Byron Ng, Assistant Commissioner Nicholas Chan, and Queenie Wong, a senior administrative officer of the Hong Kong Labor Department.
Placement fees, complaints
Roldan said the Philippine side raised the issue of placement fees and complaints of workers against their Hong Kong employers.
He explained to their Hong Kong counterparts the Philippine procedures in hiring Filipino workers, including the "no-placement fee" policy, the process of accrediting Hong Kong-based employment agencies with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, and their responsibilities to the workers they hire.
Catalla noted the prevailing practice of Hong Kong-based agencies to collect placement fees from workers. She said in some cases, this may violate Hong Kong laws, which allows only a service fee of 10 percent of a worker's first month's salary.
“Upon their arrival, they are brought by the agency to a Hong Kong lending company to sign a loan document specifying an amount of up to P3,000 that they had to pay through monthly installment of between five to seven months. The workers are asked to pay through various 7-Eleven branches. They are also being made to open a bank account in Hong Kong, but are required to surrender their ATM cards to their agencies," she said.
"Later, the agencies give to the worker only the balance of their salaries after the amount of service fee for the month has been deducted. These practices, along with other OFW complaints, such as illegal recruitment and abuse, often remain unreported," Catalla added.
Probe assured
For his part, Tong encouraged workers to report their complaints against their employers to the Hong Kong Labour Department, and against their agencies to the Employment Agency Administration. He said their complaints will be used as basis for an inspection and investigation.
Catalla raised the issue of the workers' availability to file complaints, since they are free only on Sundays when the Labor Department is closed.
Catalla suggested that the Philippine Consulate accept complaints from OFWs since it is open on Sundays, summarize these complaints, and forward it to the Hong Kong Labour Department.
Roldan said Tong was amenable to the idea of this case-referral system and suggested that this be the subject of further discussion. —Joel Locsin/KBK, GMA News
In a statement on Wednesday, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the discussion focused on the need for both sides to cooperate in addressing the concerns of Filipino HSWs.
"Their discussion focused on the need to cooperate with each other in addressing the concerns of Filipino household service workers in Hong Kong, particularly on placement fee issues and workers' complaints against their employers," she said.
Heading the Philippine side were Philippine Labor Attaché Manuel Roldan and Consul General Bernardita Casalla.
Meeting them were Hong Kong Commissioner Donald Tong, Deputy Commissioner Byron Ng, Assistant Commissioner Nicholas Chan, and Queenie Wong, a senior administrative officer of the Hong Kong Labor Department.
Placement fees, complaints
Roldan said the Philippine side raised the issue of placement fees and complaints of workers against their Hong Kong employers.
He explained to their Hong Kong counterparts the Philippine procedures in hiring Filipino workers, including the "no-placement fee" policy, the process of accrediting Hong Kong-based employment agencies with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, and their responsibilities to the workers they hire.
Catalla noted the prevailing practice of Hong Kong-based agencies to collect placement fees from workers. She said in some cases, this may violate Hong Kong laws, which allows only a service fee of 10 percent of a worker's first month's salary.
“Upon their arrival, they are brought by the agency to a Hong Kong lending company to sign a loan document specifying an amount of up to P3,000 that they had to pay through monthly installment of between five to seven months. The workers are asked to pay through various 7-Eleven branches. They are also being made to open a bank account in Hong Kong, but are required to surrender their ATM cards to their agencies," she said.
"Later, the agencies give to the worker only the balance of their salaries after the amount of service fee for the month has been deducted. These practices, along with other OFW complaints, such as illegal recruitment and abuse, often remain unreported," Catalla added.
Probe assured
For his part, Tong encouraged workers to report their complaints against their employers to the Hong Kong Labour Department, and against their agencies to the Employment Agency Administration. He said their complaints will be used as basis for an inspection and investigation.
Catalla raised the issue of the workers' availability to file complaints, since they are free only on Sundays when the Labor Department is closed.
Catalla suggested that the Philippine Consulate accept complaints from OFWs since it is open on Sundays, summarize these complaints, and forward it to the Hong Kong Labour Department.
Roldan said Tong was amenable to the idea of this case-referral system and suggested that this be the subject of further discussion. —Joel Locsin/KBK, GMA News
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