HK OFWs warned against illegal recruitment, human trafficking

 

Contracts must be verified to prevent illegal recruitment & human trafficking, says Labatt Chavez

Philippine government officials have often told Filipinos that working or moving to another country without going through required documentation is not only illegal, but makes the worker susceptible to abuse and all sorts of exploitation.

Just how dangerous this could be?

Labor Attache Cesar Chavez, Jr. told some 200 Filipino migrant workers who gathered at the OFW Global Center on Sunday about real-life horror stories encountered by those who bypassed established government procedures, lured by promises of a cushy life abroad.

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Labatt Chavez stood in for Migrant Workers Undersecretary Bernardo Olalia, who was reportedly stopped from flying to Hong Kong by his doctors because of a medical emergency.

As an example, Chavez said Filipinos enticed to move to Cambodia supposedly as highly-paid call center agents often found themselves being forced to work in scam hubs. If they did not do as told, or failed to reach quotas set for them, they were beaten up severely.

To drive home the point, he showed several photos of Filipinos rescued from the scam hubs who were found with horrific injuries inflicted by their captors. 

Photos of horrific abuse inflicted on Filipinos forced to work in scam hubs

“Bakit naman kasi tayo papayag na magtrabaho doon e mas mahirap pa sila sa atin?” (Why would we even want to go there when people there are poorer than us?) said Chavez.

“Trafficking is an organized crime,” he added. “Victims cannot seek police help because they know that what they are doing is illegal.”

The same goes for those who were already working in Hong Kong but were lured to another country with promises of higher pay and easier jobs, but were often misled.

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Chavez said illegal recruitment or human trafficking (or the recruitment, transporation, transfer, harboring or receipt of people through force or fraud so as to exploit them for profit) of Filipinos is now widespread in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan.

“Diyan po ang napakaraming illegal recruitment activities ngayon…” (A lot of illegal recruitment activities are happening in these places), he said. “Our OFWs are being brought to Europe, especially the eastern part, or the Baltic region, in Australia and North America.”

Administrator Caunan talks about dire situation of some OFWs in Poland

Administrator PY Caunan of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) who also attended the “kamustahan” with members of the Filipino community, cited her own real-life experiences with about 500 Filipinos she met recently in Poland.

Many of them, according to her, were undocumented so they were hesitant to seek help from OWWA. “Tinutulungan pa rin namin sila” (We still help them, anyway)

Many are poorly paid, earning less than 1,000 euros (about HK$9,000) a month, much of which goes to paying for their upkeep.

And yet, to get there, they admitted paying between Php300,000 to Php400,000 to their recruiters who by skipping the prescribed processes, ultimately put the workers at risk.

“Fifty years na nating ginagawa ang pagpapadala ng mga Pilipino sa ibang bansa, alam na dapat ninyo ang mga patakaran,” Caunan said. (We have been sending Filipinos to other countries for the past 50 years, so you should all know the rules).

Even granting that salaries in the Philippines often cannot match those offered in overseas destinations, she said Filipinos who want to go abroad for work should always make sure they go through the process.

“Kung ang kontrata mo verified, alam namin kung sino ang amo ninyo, alam namin kung nasaan kayo, alam namin kung sino ang papanagutin pag may nangyari sa inyo.” (If your contracts are verified, we know who your employer is, we know where you are, we know who should be held responsible if something happens to you).

Caunan said this is the reason why the Department of Migrant Workers has been brokering deals with various overseas destination so all Filipinos who get to work there would fly out from the Philippines and pass through the rigorous system set up for departing OFWs.

This is also the reason why the DMW and OWWA have been focusing on retooling and upskilling OFWs so they will have better job alternatives or prospects, either overseas or at home, and will not be tempted to become undocumented workers.

To guard against illegal recruitment or human trafficking at overseas posts, Chavez  the processing of documents should only be done in the Philippines.

“Pag third country, dapat walang short-cut kasi bawal yun.” (There should be no short-cuts for third-country recruitments because that’s not allowed).

HK is one of 3 main transit points for trafficked Filipinos 

The other guidelines include transacting only with licensed recruitment agencies, which must have an approved job order (JO) for them; ensuring that all transactions are made in the agency’s office; and that all payments are receipted.

But he warned that even licensed recruiters have been found to commit recruitment violations, like applying for only 50 JOs then recruiting 5,000 people. After word spreads that they are legitimate recruiters they start collecting and amassing money from subsequent applicants, even while knowing that the quotas given them had already been all filled.

(To report suspected cases of human trafficking call the action line, 1343 if in the Philippines and +632 1343 if outside the country)

 

Pinay accused of $410K theft refused bail

 

 Kwun Tong Court

A domestic helper accused of stealing $410,000 worth of jewelries and watches was denied bail today at Kwun Tong Court despite her lawyer offering $10,000 in cash plus other conditions.

Lizabeth Untalan, 52 years old, is accused of theft, contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance. Police accuse her of stealing four watches and some jewelries, with total value at HK$410,000, the property of female Lee Shiu Yin Catherine.

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She allegedly committed the theft last May 9 in Tai Tan, Pak Tam Road, Sai Kung.

Untalan was returned to jail after Acting Principal Magistrate May Chung adjourned the case to July 14 for bail review to see if circumstances in the case have changed, and to Sept. 14 to resume the case after prosecution has obtained legal advice.

In addition to the $10.000 cash bail, Untalan’s lawyer also offered to surrender her travel document, to report to Lamma Police weekly, not to leave Hong Kong, and not contact prosecution witnesses while the case is pending.

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He also noted that she has a clear criminal record.

But Magistrate Chung refused the bail application for fear Untalan will not surrender to the court when the case resumes. He also noted that the offense is serious.

But she said Untalan has the right to bring her bail application  to the High Court.

Automatic long service pay, higher wages urged for FDWs

 

AMCB members picket the Labour Department office in Central during the consultation meeting

For the first time, Asian migrant organizations have included long service pay for foreign domestic workers without any preconditions, among the demands they submitted to the Hong Kong Labour Department ahead of the annual review of their minimum monthly salary.

 

Currently, migrant domestic workers, along with other workers in Hong Kong, are entitled to a long service pay if they have worked continuously for the same employer for at least five years, and were not the one who terminated, or refused to renew, their work contract, when it expired.

However, unlike local workers, they are not covered by the Mandatory Fund Scheme, leaving them with no pension fund to fall back on upon retirement, or reserve cash when they suddenly lose their job. 

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Members of the Asian Migrant Coordinating Body (AMCB) picketed the Labour Department office in Central as their leaders met with government officials who had invited them and other concern groups for a consultation on the so-called “minimum allowable wage” for foreign domestic helpers.

 

AMCB, an alliance of migrant workers from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal and Sri Lanka, again asked that the monthly minimum wage for domestic workers be raised to HK$6,172 and food allowance to HK$3,123 (from HK$5,100 and HK$1,236, respectively).

Labour officials are presented with AMCB's demands during the meeting

 

AMCB also raised other work-related concerns during the meeting, such as:

 

1)     The inclusion of MDWs in the statutory minimum wage for all other workers in Hong Kong, which currently stands at HK$43.10 per hour;

2)     Legislate the working hours of all workers and for migrant workers, to include a provision for a continuous 11-hour rest period between two consecutive working days, plus meal breaks;

3)     Review and discard “discriminatory policies” that leave MDWs vulnerable to abuse such as the mandatory live-in policy and the two-week policy, referring to the period an MDW is allowed to remain in Hong Kong after termination;

4)     Stipulate clearly in the standard employment contract of MDWs a clear description of their “working hours”, “suitable accommodation”, “decent food” and “rest day”.

5)     Provide clear punishment for employers who compel their MDWs to do dangerous window cleaning, and ensure it is followed

6)     Make long service benefit available to all MDWs, without regard for whoever terminated or declined to renew their work contract

7)     Conduct a thorough investigation of all unscrupulous recruitment agencies

8)     Lift the entry ban on Nepali migrant workers

9)     Liaise with the concerned government agencies so MDWs are allowed to rest in all public areas including parks and bridges, during their day-off

 

“Migrant domestic workers are the backbone or the most essential workers in the society” ensuring that someone is left at home to take care of children and the elderly and run the household while adults are out working, said the AMCB statement.

 

“Yet the contribution of  MDWs is always neglected and they are treated as commodities that are disposable.”

 

The AMCB said its petition for a living wage and more humane working conditions for MDWs was endorsed and signed by 70 different organizations.

 

Filipina gets 16 months' jail for laundering HK$1M

 

A domestic helper was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment after she failed in a trial at the Eastern Court to convince the magistrate that she accidentally threw away the ATM card used to deposit and withdraw a total of $1 million from her bank account.

Ronnalyn Manalo, 34 years old, had been accused of money laundering for letting her account in Hang Seng Bank Limited to be used in dealing with $1,086,434 in crime proceeds during the 13-day period on April 10-22 2024.

Magistrate Tobias Cheng convicted her of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence, contrary to sections. 25(1) and 25(3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

Magistrate Cheng questioned why she wrote the PIN for the ATM in a piece of paper that got mixed up with the grocery receipts that were thrown away. She also did not report the ATM card’s loss to the bank or the police.

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Magistrate Cheng noted that the testimony of Manalo‘s employer, to whom she turned over the receipts after her trip to the grocery store, did not help her claim.

The employer testified that she did not notice the ATM card among the receipts when she threw them away. “She would have noticed the bank card because of its thickness,” Magistrate Cheng said..

In mitigation, Manalo’s lawyer said she arrived in Hong Kong in 2019 to work as a domestic helper and that she has a husband and one child in the Philippines.

He said that aside from the fact that she she can’t get another job after this case, the 19 months it took to resolve it was stressful to her.

Family of deceased Filipina awarded HK$251k in wrongful dismissal suit

 

Baby Jane with 2 of her 5 children outside the Labour Tribunal where she first filed a claim

The family of a Filipina domestic helper who was dismissed after she was diagnosed with cervical cancer and later died, has been awarded a total of $251,653 plus interests as compensation for her wrongful sacking by her employer in 2019.

The decision to grant the award to the heirs of Baby Jane Allas as represented in court by her sister Mary Jane Allas Pereira, was handed down by Deputy District Judge Ebony Ling yesterday, Friday (July 3).

The award was broken down as follows: $33,367 for loss of income; $120,00 as compensation for injury to feelings; and $98,286 for medical expenses. Interest should be paid for all these awards, either from the time Allas was sacked, or when she filed her claim.

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However, the court accepted as evidence that the deceased had agreed that whatever medical expenses would be recovered from her former employer, Pakistani socialite Jamil Bushra, would be repaid to the Adventist Foundation which had treated her for free after she lost her job.

Court records show that Allas started working for Bushra on Nov. 12,  2017 under a standard two-year contract. In January 2019 she was provisionally diagnosed with cervical cancer and was given a two-week sick leave.

On Feb 14, 2019 after the diagnosis of stage IIIB cervical cancer was confirmed, Allas sought comfort from her sister who was also working in Hong Kong as a domestic helper, but was told by Bushra’s father to return to their household to resume work. However, Allas felt ill and was admitted to Pok Oi Hospital on Feb. 16, 2019.

She was discharged the next day, but not before Bushra’s father repeated a requested for her to obtain a fitness certificate from a doctor. On her discharge, Allas was given a sick leave certificate from Feb 16 to 18.

Baby Jane in the hospital after her diagnosis in 2019

When she returned to her employer’s home that day she was again asked for a fitness certificate. Bushra’s father was angered when instead of a fitness certificate Allas gave him her sick leave certificate.

Later that day, Bushra gave Allas a termination letter in which the reason cited for her termination was “diagnosed with cervical cancer.”

Bushra cited other reasons for terminating their contract, including Allas’ insistence in staying in her sister’s house during her sick leave, even if the employer had originally consented to such an arrangement earlier.

“Given your medical conditions. I am no longer able to continue your employment effective from 19 February 2019,” said Bushra in concluding the termination letter.

The employer asked Allas to sign the termination letter but she refused. She left Bushra’s house on the same day and stayed temporarily with her sister at the invitation of the latter’s employer, Jessica Cutrera Papadopoulos.

Allas returned to the Philippines on Sept 13, 2019 after undergoing a radical hysterectomy in Hong Kong with help from the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital Foundation.

She subsequently died in her Palawan hometown on Mar 27, 2021 due to a liver ailment.

Pereira, as administratrix of her sister’s estate, filed the claim against Bushra with help from the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), alleging violations of the Disability Discrimination Ordinance.

In particular, Sections 6(a) and 11(2)(c) of the DDO make it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a person with a disability by treating them less favourably, dismissing them, or subjecting them to any other detriment.

The notice of claim and other documents were served on respondent Bushra by substituted service (either by mail, email or advertisement) but she did not respond or took part in any of the court service. Judgment was thus rendered against the respondent on Aug 1, 2024, with damages to be assessed.

An assessment hearing was held last June 25, where Bushra again failed to show up. Pereira called herself and Cutrera as witnesses during the hearing, and Judge Ling said she found them both “honest and reliable” and accepted their evidence in their entirety.

Baby Jane in tears after the Labour Tribunal hearing in 2019

Perreira and Cutrera both testified as to the physical and emotional state of Allas as she lived with them during her sick leave and after her employment was terminated by Bushra.

They also told the court that Cutrera and the Adventist Foundation had provided financial, medical and other assistance to the deceased that enabled her to stay and receive private medical treatment in Hong Kong after she lost her job.

Cutrera also started an online campaign that raised funds for Allas. Cutrera told the court that she and Allas agreed that all medical fees recovered from Bushra would be repaid to the Adventist Foundation so as to help other patients in need.

 

 

 

$2M drug case involving Pinoy tourist to be elevated to District Court

 

Marijuana buds found in Filipino's luggage 

The case of a Filipino tourist who was arrested last year after 9.1 kilos of marijuana buds were found in his luggage as he was exiting Hong Kong Airport's arrival area, will be elevated by the West Kowloon Magistrates Court to the District Court

Clay John Tianzon, 27 years old, is accused of trafficking in a dangerous drug, contrary to sections 4(1) (a) and (3) of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.

He is also facing a charge of importing an alternative smoking product, contrary to Section 13B of the Import and Export Ordinance., after Customs officers found an “alternative smoking product” in his luggage.

Basahin ang detalye!

Principal Magistrate Don So adjourned the case to Aug. 27 for the preparation of transfer documents.

In the meantime, he will remain in jail, where he has been confined since his arrest on July 25 last year after he arrived from Bangkok, Thailand.

Customs officers found the drugs during a search of Tianzon’s luggage at the Baggage Examination Counter S5, Customs Arrival Hall B of the Hong Kong International Airport.   

“During customs clearance, a total of about 9.1 kg of suspected cannabis buds were seized in his check-in suitcases,” the Customs and Excise Department said, which estimated the market value of the drugs to be HK$2 million.

Filipino-led theater group opens new play tonight to sellout crowd

“When God is silent, whose voice remains?”

This thought-provoking question is what propels the new musical, JOB: Fateful Fever Dream, which opens tonight to a sell-out crowd at The Hive in Kennedy Town.

It is the second full-length production of the Filipino-led theater group, The Bootstrap Theatre, whose debut play, FAKE, received wide acclaim in Hong Kong when it was staged in June last year.i

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Its makers describe JOB  “as a chamber rock musical about war, loss and unbearable silence”.

At the story’s center is Job, a man who leads his community out of bloody and violent conflict, but in the process loses everything that once defined him: family, health, and his life’s purpose.

Scene from the final rehearsal before opening night

But while it is based on the Book of Job in the Old Testament, it is not about religion, says its playwright, composer and director William Elvin Manzano.

“It’s about people who live in a time of chaos, violence, danger, and despair -- but still have to enter on cue and sing in tune. And that is all of us.”

Playing the lead role of Job is Felix Rivera, while the two other key roles of Dinah and Hassatan are played alternatively by Mikah Franco and Michelle Lam; and Mary Jane Alejo and Franz Arcilla, respectively.

It is directed by Amuer Calderon, with Erickson Dizon as choreographer.

JOB will be shown on all weekends of July (Fridays through Sundays) at The Hive Studio on the 8^th floor of Cheung Hing Industrial Building, 12P Smithfield Road, Kennedy Town. Limited tickets are available at https://www.art-mate.net/

Pinay jailed 16 months for $261k theft

 

Illustrative photo created with deevid.ai

A domestic helper has been jailed for 16 months after she pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Court to stealing 15 pieces of jewelry worth $261,150 from her employer.

Acting Principal Magistrate May Chung convicted Lea Fuentes, 48 years old, of theft, contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance in a hearing last Tuesday, Jun 30.

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Fuentes is charged with stealing the jewelry, the property of female Sun-Sze-lui Lucia between May 11, 2025 and April 26, 2026 at a flat of in Wings At Sea, in Tseung Kwan O, New Territories.

The 16-month sentence was what was left after Magistrate May Chung deducted one third from her starting sentence of 24 months, as credit for her guilty plea.

67-year-old Pinay tourist jailed 6 weeks for overstaying

 

Shatin Court

A Filipina who arrived as a tourist 16 years ago and stayed on since, was jailed for two months and two weeks today after pleading guilty at Shatin Court today, Thursday, to overstaying.

Susan Guisinga, who is now aged 67 and holder of a recognizance form that allows her to remain in Hong Kong while her application against being sent back home is being heard, had been charged with breach of condition of stay, contrary to section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance.

Magistrate Pang Leung-ting handed Guisinga the sentence after deducting the usual discount of one third for her guilty plea.

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Information filed by the Immigration Department said she contravened her condition of stay as a tourist, who was allowed to stay two weeks after her arrival, or until Feb. 16, 2010, when she remained in Hong Kong.

She surrendered on June 28, 2021 to Immigration Department and subsequently sought asylum. Her application for non-refoulement has since been denied.

 

Filipina charged with stealing HK$1.6 million worth of jewelry

 

Defendant appeared at Kwun Tong Court for the first time today

A 33-year-old Filipina domestic helper was returned to jail today, Thursday (Jul 2) after appearing at Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Court on a charge of stealing jewelry worth a total of HK1,608,300.

Rogela Magcquilat Caalem is alleged to have stolen 19 pieces of jewelry between January 1 and June 26 this year, at a standalone house in Fei Ngo Shan in Tseung Kwan O. The jewelry were said to be the property of a female, Mao Guojing.

With help from the Migrant Workers Office of the Philippine Consulate, Caalem through her court-appointed lawyer applied for bail but was rejected.

Basahin ang detalye!

Magistrate Betty Lau sent her back to jail until a bail review hearing set for July 10. No plea was taken from Caalem and she was told that there was no need for her to present her defense just yet.

Magistrate Lau adjourned the case to August 27 at the request of the prosecution for further investigation.

CG calls on HK Filcom to project positive image

Congen Israel (with glasses) and Social Justice officers award plaque of 
appreciation to Traditional Chinese Medicine lead Zoe Cheng

Consul General Romulo M. Israel, Jr. has called on Filipinos in Hong Kong to try to project a positive image for the community, in the wake of a series of social media posts involving Filipino migrant workers brawling in public places.

Speaking at the 7^th anniversary celebration of Social Justice for Migrant Workers held in Jordan on Sunday, June 28, Congen Israel said Filipinos should look out for each other instead of fighting one another to earn the respect of other people in their host city.

Still shot from a viral video shows a Filipina being dragged down the stairs of the GPO 

At least two controversial videos had been posted online earlier: one of a Filipina migrant worker being dragged down the stairs of the General Post Office building in Central during a dispute over the right to hang out in the area; and another of two Filipinas throwing kicks and punches at each other on Chater Road, also in Central, reportedly due to an overdue loan.

Another viral video shows a Filipina being kicked before onloookers on Chater Road

Congen Israel said that Filipinos who are in trouble should go the Consulate for help: “Be our guest,” he said.

Another basic guideline is for Filipinos in Hong Kong to “invest in their future” as many are here only for work, and will eventually return to the Philippines to resume their lives.

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Lastly, he said Filipinos are “keepers” of each other, so they must learn to live harmoniously, if not happily, together.

Congen also used the occasion to thank Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners who also celebrated their fourth year of involvement in the Filipino community through the SJMW at the same event.

“This is a huge milestone because it speaks of the dedication and commitment of Social Justice for Migrant Workers to promote one of the effective methods of healing our physical bodies,” he said.

He added that even in the Philippines, the Health Department is promoting the use of TCM because the country also has a huge Chinese community.

TCM lead doctor, Zoe Cheng, announced that with a recent increase in the number of licensed practitioners in her team, they are now able to treat migrant workers three times a month, instead of the previous two.

Cheng also said they recently broke new ground when they were asked by the Migrant Workers Office at the Consulate to conduct a TCM workshop.

Social Justice officers led by Marites Palma (leftmost) with their 3 NGO partners

Representatives of various NGO partners of SJMW also spoke at the event, including Serene Clark who heads the volunteer team for cervical screening booking; Ariel Lee of Kriya Lightning Foundation, Rachel Ng of Be Priceless, and Joy Tadios-Arenas of Good Financial Ltd.

The other invited guests were Daisy CL Mandap and Leo A. Deocadiz of The SUN Hong Kong and Aileen Alonzo-Hayward of Pagyao HK Migrants Community.

SJMW was founded by Marites Palma in 2019, primarily as an online support group for Filipino migrant workers who are terminated, abused, sexually harassed or suffering from gender-based violence.

Palma, along with a group of dedicated fellow volunteers who have been designated as administrators of their social media page, help the disadvantaged migrant workers to speak up and be heard by the community and the authorities.

 

 

3-day free tram rides as HKSAR marks 29th anniversary

 

Anyone can hop on and off the 'ding ding'from today until Friday

Three consecutive days of free rides on Hong Kong’s s iconic trams begin today, July 1, as the city celebrates the 29^th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

As in the past year, the free tram rides will be offered for three consecutive days, from July 1 to July 3, Friday.

The treat is meant to encourage more people to travel more leisurely through the districts of  Hong Kong island aboard the two-tier mode of transport, which has been operating since 1904.

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Also providing free rides today is the Star Ferry, but only on its less busy Tsim Sha Tsui to Wan Chai route.

Other ferry companies will be distributing a limited number of complimentary boarding passes to passengers.

Free joy rides on the LRT are available only today

No free rides are offered for the MTR except for the lucky few who received complimentary single rides on its domestic routes beforehand through its app.

But there will be free rides on all its Light Rail routes and MTR buses in the northwest New Territories.

Free Airport Express bus rides will be provided to children aged 3-11 while seniors and students get to enjoy the usual half-fare concession.

Popular at this time of the year is the free public use of all leisure facilities run by the Leisure and Cultural Services, including badminton and tennis courts, swimming pools and others. Booking can be done via the SmartPLAY app.

Museums such as M+, Hong Kong Science Museum and Hong Kong Space Museum will also offer free entry to their general exhibition and/ or permanent exhibitions.

The Wetland Park, which is also run by the LCSD, will likewise open its doors free to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis. Ocean Park is also currently offering a 30% discount on All-Day Delight Tickets.

Free admission to the Wetland Park in Yuen Long can be enjoyed today

Finally, more than 1,000 restaurants will provide discounts and/or dining specials today, while groceries will offer 29% discount on selected fresh products visa the Local Fresh mobile app, from July 1 to 7.