HK gov’t opposes suspension of issuance of OECs for Pinoy workers


The government of Hong Kong is not in favor of the decision of the Department of Labor and Employment to suspend the issuance of the overseas employment certificates (OECs) to Filipino workers.
According to a report on Unang Balita on Tuesday, Hong Kong's Office of the Secretary for Labor and Welfare said the suspension would delay the issuance of visas to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong, which could also affect thousands of families relying on Filipino domestic helpers.
Meanwhile, hundreds of OFWs in Hong Kong have protested against the suspension.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III announced on Friday that the DOLE will suspend the acceptance and processing of OECs for 15 working days, from November 13 to December 1.
The departure of an estimated 75,000 would-be OFWs will be put on hold during this period as DOLE launches an investigation to "cleanse" the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) of employees benefiting from illegal recruitment.
At the end of the 15 day period, the suspension may be subject to extension as circumstances may require.
Bello said the newest temporary suspension was due to the persistent reports that 80 to 90 percent of direct hires are victims of illegal recruitment and that some POEA employees earn as much as P250,000 by issuing OECs to illegal recruiters. — Marlly Rome Bondoc/MDM, GMA News

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