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‘Help the Mission help more migrant workers’

Posted on 26 March 2023 No comments

 By Daisy CL Mandap

Indonesian worker-activist Eni Lestari shares how the Mission helped empower her 

Through the years, the Mission for Migrant Workers has done more than just give legal advice and shelter to distressed foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong; it has also helped empower them so they could help others in turn.

This was what renowned Indonesian worker-activist Eni Lestari said in a testimony she gave at the 42nd anniversary celebration of the Mission on Mar 19, at St John’s Cathedral in Central.

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Lestari, a former Mission client herself, spoke of how her life was transformed after she started working as a volunteer for the church-based group while pursuing an abuse case she filed against her former employer.

“Through the Mission I realized I have the power to change, not just myself - I won my case because of the Mission - but I also used that knowledge to reach out to my fellow Indonesian workers (and tell them), ‘You can change your life, but you have to learn your rights.’," said Lestari.

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It was with the Mission’s help that Indonesian migrant workers in Hong Kong became organized, added Lestari, who now chairs the International Migrants Alliance, and was once invited to address the United Nations Summit on Refugees and Migrants.

She called for continued support for the Mission so it could continue to help and empower, and treat migrant workers as partners in ensuring the rights of all migrants in Hong Kong are protected.

Cynthia Tellez and Fr Dwight dela Torre thank Mission's supporters and partners

In her welcome speech, the Mission’s general manager Cynthia Tellez said it was a good time to celebrate the non-government organizations she helped found 42 years ago.

“(But) the celebration of anniversaries matters when significant events happen. The beginning of the end of the Covid season makes it an event worth celebrating,” she said.

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It was during the three-year pandemic that the Mission once again proved its capacity and willingness to go the extra mile for the community it serves.

Told of the growing number of FDWs being thrown out of their employers’ homes or boarding houses after they contracted Covid, the Mission, along with its shelter, the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, went on high alert to look for a place to stay for the abandoned workers, and had food sent to them on a regular basis.

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At the same time, the Mission worked with various migrant support organizations to press the Hong Kong government to give more help and support to workers afflicted with Covid, and protect them from discrimination.

Tellez said the event also gave the Mission the chance to recognize and honor all those who have helped them through the years, from the staff and board members and those on their advisory board, to donors and the migrant workers.

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She also made special mention of “kind-hearted employers” who were recipients of the Mission’s Happy Homes Awards.

“You and your families are beacons of hope that sections of Hong Kong society are moving in the right direction or nurturing respect and harmony,” she said. “Thank you for showing the way for many Hong Kong households.”

Also among those who spoke and extended well wishes to the Mission were Daniel Feldman, chairperson of its Advisory Board and Colin Cohen, senior partner at Boase, Cohen and Collins, the solicitors’ firm which has worked with the Mission on a number of landmark court cases, including the challenge to the 14-day rule for terminated FDWs.

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Petition signing against job-hopping charge to be launched tomorrow

Posted on 25 March 2023 No comments

 

Migrant groups held a protest a day before the job-hopping charge was tabled at Legco 

A signature campaign against allegations of job-hopping being leveled at foreign domestic workers who terminate their contracts will be launched on Sunday, Mar 26, on Chater Road in Central starting at 3pm.

The campaign comes in the wake of the tabling of a proposal at the Legislative Council to mandate employment agencies to warn FDWs against job-hopping, in the process legitimizing a claim that migrant workers purposely terminate their contracts in search of higher pay or easier workload.

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Agencies will also be obliged to speak with employers about refunding recruitment fees, or replacing the worker who quit her job before the two-year expiration of the contract.

Workers and agencies are both opposed to the proposal, for varying reasons.

Foremost among the FDWs’ arguments is that there is no such thing as job-hopping because a worker will only terminate the contract if he or she is not treated well, and is pushed to the limit. This is because like their employers, they also spent a substantial amount to secure their job in Hong Kong.

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They also argue that moving to another employer is within their rights, and should thus not be considered illegal.

Employers agree to this, even pointing out that the Basic Law allows all residents in Hong Kong the right to choose who to work for.

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The Labour proposal, which was submitted to the Legco manpower panel for discussion on Mar 21, is set to undergo eight weeks of consultations with various interest groups.

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Malamig at maulan ang panahon bukas

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Nababalutan ng ulap ang Guangdong, kasama ang HK, sa kuhang ito ng satellite. (HKO photo)

Gigising sa malamig at maulan na Linggo ang Hong Kong bukas dahil sa parating na cold front galing sa norte, ayon sa Hong Kong Observatory.

Kasama ng Northeast Monsoon, magdadala ito ng maulap na papawirin at panaka-nakang pag-ulan lalo na sa umaga. Itinatayang babagsak muli sa 18-19 degrees Celsius ang temperature sa bandang ika-7 ng umaga.

Bandang tanghali kanina ay itinaas ang amber o yellow rainstorm warning dahil sa biglang pagbuhos ng ulan matapos mabalot ang paligid ng kadiliman.

Kinumpirma din ng HK Observatory ang balita na umulan ng hailstones sa Shatin at Sai Wan Ho bandang alas tres ng hapon. Huling nakita sa Hong Kong ang hail nong Setyembre ng 2021. 

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Ang bugso ng hangin sa karagatan at mga matataas na lugar ay aabot din sa 70 kilometers per hour.

Bahagyang tataas sa 19 degrees ang temperatura sa Miyerkules.

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Ang mga paalala ng Observatory para sa mga panahong ganito:

1. Magkanlong sa mga ligtas na lugar kapag naabutan ng malakas na hangin.

2. Kung inabutan ng masamang panahon sa dagat, umahon agad.

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3. Huwag umakyat ng bundok, at lumayo sa mga bagay na maaaring tamaan ng kidlat, na gaya ng mga puno at mga poste.

4. Mag-ingat sa mga lumilipad na bagay na tangay ng hangin, o mga bumabagsak na bagay.

5. Kung nagmamaneho sa highway and flyover, bawasan ang bilis ng sasakyan.

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Public urged to take caution on World TB Day

Posted on 24 March 2023 No comments

 

Wan Chai Chest Clinic, one of several places where TB patients can get treated

Today, March 24, is World TB Day, and the government used the opportunity to urge the public to work together to prevent tuberculosis infection by maintaining personal and environmental hygiene at all time.

According to a government statement, there are still around 4,000 new cases of TB reported in Hong Kong every year, despite a marked decline in the figures over the past few decades.

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From July to December 2022 alone, a total of 1,666 notifications of TB cases were reported.

Of the yearly tally, about 200 TB related-deaths are reported, half of them being patients aged 80 or older.

“A cautious approach on prevention work needs to be maintained,” said the statement.

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Early identification of TB cases and prompt treatment are the key factors in preventing the spread of the disease.

Chest clinics under the Centre for Health Protection provide TB patients with free outpatient consultations and treatments, which normally lasts for six months. TB patients are reminded to strictly comply with the treatment regimen to minimize the emergence of drug-resistant TB.     

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The World Health Organization has designated March 24 of each year as World TB Day, to encourage countries all over the world to combat TB together. 

CHP does its part by disseminating TB-related information on the Internet and social media platforms, and also work with the Hong Kong Tuberculosis, Chest and Heart Diseases Association and the Hospital Authority to organize a series of health education talks.

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TB is an airborne disease which is passed on when a patient coughs or sneezes, releasing small droplets containing the tubercle bacilli in the air. Another person may get infected if he or she breathes in these small airborne droplets. However, prolonged exposure is more often associated with infection.

To guard against TB, people should maintain a healthy lifestyle by keeping a balanced diet, avoid smoking and alcohol intake, exercising, and getting enough rest.

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If symptoms develop, such as a persistent cough, blood in the sputum, weight loss, fever and night sweating, the person should seek prompt medical advice.

For more TB-related information, services and figures, visit the CHP's page on World TB Day (www.info.gov.hk/tb_chest/en/worldtbday.htm) and the website of the Tuberculosis and Chest Service (www.info.gov.hk/tb_chest), or call the telephone hotline (2572 6024). 

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Filipina who took out loan after being fired gets 3 months’ jail

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By Daisy CL Mandap

 

The Filipina says she did not realize it was wrong to obtain a loan after being fired from work

A Filipina domestic helper could have gotten away with taking out a $20,000 loan from a financing company despite her being terminated, had her friend who split the money with her paid her share of the proceeds.

But because no monthly repayment was ever made for the loan with Prime Credit, Lanie B. del Mundo who was listed as borrower, was arrested as soon as she returned to Hong Kong on Feb. 1 this year.

This was according to Del Mundo’s lawyer who asked Eastern Court magistrate Lam Tsz Kwan to impose a lenient sentence on the Filipina, saying she has now lost her job, and “it’s very likely” that she will not be able to work in Hong Kong again because of her criminal record.

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Del Mundo, who is 36 and has two teenage children in the Philippines, pleaded guilty to fraud when she appeared in court, and said she “absolutely regretted” having committed the offence.

However, the defense lawyer said Del Mundo did not intend to deceive the financing company, she just didn’t know that she could not have taken out a loan if she was out of work.

According to the lawyer, a friend had asked Del Mundo to apply for a loan on her behalf as she was not yet qualified to do this herself, having been in Hong Kong for only a month.

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Del Mundo applied for a $20,000 loan – which was to have been split equally with her friend - two days after her employer had fired her on Aug. 20 last year, which meant she only had 14 days to remain in Hong Kong.

“She thought she could get a new employer soon,” said her lawyer. “She did not realize the consequences of her action.”

Del Mundo was not able to find a new employer immediately and had to go home. In the meantime, her unnamed friend who was in court today to show support, did not pay her share of the monthly repayment for the loan, leading to the discovery of the fraud.

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The defendant eventually managed to find a new employer, and had come here on Feb 1 this year to take up the job, but she was arrested on her arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport.

She was charged with fraud for having obtained a loan from PrimeCredit Limited on Aug 23, 2022 at its office in Euro Trade Centre in Central, “by falsely representing” that her employment contract was still valid.

In mitigation, her lawyer said Del Mundo had a clear record. She first came to Hong Kong in 2019 and had finished her first contract, but was terminated a year later.

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She had written a letter to the magistrate to ask for leniency, saying she now realizes she made a big mistake, and did not wish her children to follow her example.

However, as she was jobless she could not repay her outstanding loan with Prime, which amounted to already more than $21,500 with interest.

Her lawyer asked for a more lenient sentence, saying the case did not involve the use of forged document or any other fraudulent means as what happens in more serious cases.

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Magistrate Lam said the sentence should have been 4.5 months, but he was reducing it to three months because of the defendant’s guilty plea.

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2 Pinay na overstay, sangkot sa kasong droga

Posted on 23 March 2023 No comments

 

Iba-iba ang kinahinatnan ng tatlong akusado sa Eastern Court

Nagsanga ang mga landas ng dalawang Pilipinang nag overstay at isang Briton na naharap sa kasong droga sa Eastern Court matapos silang mahuli sa Wanchai noong Sept. 2-3, 2022.

Ang Briton, si Sam Burcher, 23 taong gulang at estudyante, ay pinagmulta ng $5,000. Bumalik sya sa korte gaya ng pangako  niya noong maglagak ng $50,000 kapalit ng pagpayag ng korte na ituloy muna niya ang kanyang pag-aaral sa UK.

Iginawad ni Magistrate Daniel Tang ang parusa kay Burcher noong Miyerkules (March 23) matapos siyang umamin sa sakdal na pagkakaroon (o possession) ng 2.56 na gramo ng marijuana nang arestuhin ng pulis sa harap ng Hong Kong Bldg. sa Wanchai.

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Inutos ni Tang na kaltasin ang multa sa piyansang $50,000 na mababawi ni Burcher dahil tapos na ang kaso niya.

Ang kaso naman ng dalawang Pilipinang naaresto kasama niya at inakusahang nagbebenta ng marijuana ay nagpapatuloy pa.

Pero si Teodora Quijano, 33 taong gulang at walang trabaho, ay pinayagang magpiyansa ng $5,000 matapos iurong ng taga-usig ang kasong drug trafficking  laban sa kanya. 

Ang tanging kasong hinaharap niya ngayon ay paglabag sa kondisyon ng kanyang paglagi sa Hong Kong, dahil siya ay nag-overstay.

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Nang mahuli siya sa 2nd floor ng Hong Kong Bldg., nadiskubre na si Quijano ay tatlong buwan nang overstay. Naterminate siya bilang domestic helper noong May 15, 2022 at dapat ay nakaalis na siya pagkatapos ng 14 na araw, o noong May 29, 2022.

Itinakda ni Magistrate Tang sa May 3 ang susunod na pagdinig sa kaso niya.

Ang ikatlong akusado, si Maria Eldha Cabello, 33 taong gulang at walang trabaho, ay nahaharap sa mas mabigat na kaso dahil ang susunod na pagdinig sa kanya sa April 21 ay upang iakyat ito sa mas mataas na korte, ang District Court.

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Akusado siya sa dalawang kasong drug trafficking. Inakusahan siyang nagbebenta ng droga sa hagdanan sa 3rd floor ng Hong Kong Bldg.  noong gabi ng Sept. 2, at sa Room 9 ng Ming Court Guest Hotel na nasa 2nd floor ng gusali makalipas ang ilang oras.

Maliban sa mga kasong droga, kinasuhan din siya ng paglabag sa kondisyon ng kanyang paglalagi sa Hong Kong, dahil nag-overstay siya ng halos isang buwan.

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Na-terminate siya noong July 29, 2022 at dapat ay nakauwi na noong Aug. 11, 2022 pero naglagi pa siya hanggang mahuli noong Sept. 2.

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