2 plead guilty to operating dental clinic illegally

 

The 6 Filipino DHs after their arrest in unlicensed dental business

The leader of the six domestic helpers who were arrested by Immigration officersfor operating a dental clinic illegally in Sham Shui Po, has pleaded guilty to two charges, and will be sentenced on March 20 at Shatin Court.

Marites Bohol, 48 years old, who was returned to jail, will be sentenced with her assistant Marissa Necesito, 60 years old, who was granted bail of $2,000.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

The four others – Carles Lie Ramos, Cherie Mel Patiga, Rowena Cerdina, and Jucen Naong – were also freed on bail of $2,000 until their next court hearing on April 8 on charges of aiding and abetting the practice of dentistry without registration.

Bohol pleaded guilty to practicing dentistry without registration, and establishing a business while in Hong Kong in breach of her condition of stay.

Basahin ang detalye!

Necesito pleaded guilty to breach of condition of stay, practicing dentistry without registration and three counts of employing persons not legally employable.

Drills were among the items seized during the raid on the makeshift dental clinic

Magistrate Raymond Wong dismissed five charges against Bohol, Necesito, Ramos, Patiga and Cerdina that were deemed identical to those filed against them.

The six were arrested on Aug. 17 last year by Immigration agents in a raid on a subdivided unit in Sham Shui Po.

Asylum seeker gets 2 months jail for slashing plastic cones

 

The toilet where the offense was committed (Google Maps photo)

For slashing two plastic safety cones placed inside a women’s toilet in Sham Shui Po, a 39-year-old asylum seeker was jailed for two months after she pleaded guilty at West Kowloon Court.

R. Lagud, who holds a recognizance form as her identity document, was charged with criminal damage contrary to section 60(1) of the Crimes Ordinance, for which she pleaded guilty when she appeared in court on Tuesday (Feb. 3).

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

The offense was committed on Nov. 17 last year at the women’s public toilet at Apliu st., Sham Shui Po.

She was also charged with possession of offensive weapon contrary to section 17 of the Summary Offences Ordinance, after she was found to be carrying a 13cm cutter “with intent to use the said weapon for unlawful purposes,’ according to a Sham Shui Po police complaint.

However, this charge was withdrawn by prosecutors.

Basahin ang detalye!

Principal Magistrate Don So also cancelled the warrant of arrest issued against her when she failed to appear in court for a previous hearing.

'Employers and agencies must pay higher verification fee, not OFWs'

 

Labatt Chavez and Congen Israel say OFWs should not be made to pay the verification fee

The Philippine Consulate General and the Migrant Workers Office in Hong Kong have sought to allay concerns of overseas Filipino workers over the hike in verification fee which went up by as much as four times in the case of contracts covering new arrivals, starting last Sunday, Mar. 1.

In a press briefing called earlier today, Tuesday, both Consul General Romulo Israel, Jr. and Labor Attache Cesar Chavez, Jr. said the new fees announced only four days ago should have been implemented as early last year in line with a Joint Circular by the Departments of Migrant Workers, Budget and Management and The Bureau of Treasury.

Both officials said that despite the seemingly massive increase in the fee, only a few OFWs will be affected as those who are rehired or are returning to the same employer after a vacation (Balik Manggagawa), or move to another while still in Hong Kong, will still be covered by the current fee of HK$80 (or US$10 per the Joint Circular).

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Only the new hires, or those coming to Hong Kong for the first time (or those who had previously worked here but had to go home to process a new work contract) will be subject to the new fee of HK$320, which amounts to four times the current fee of HK$80.

Congen Romulo said all these were relayed to a group of protesters from Migrante Hong Kong who picketed the Consulate building on Sunday to hit out at the new fees, calling them a form of “kotong” (extortion) by the Philippine government.

“We invited them to come up and we had a little dialogue,” said Congen Romulo.

Basahin ang detalye!

During their talk, the two officials assured the protesters that the higher fees will not be passed on to OFWs as it has always been the Philippine government’s mandate that all processing costs should be borne either by the employer or the recruitment agency.

“The employer must pay this fee, not the worker,” said the officials, adding that any OFW who is forced to pay the charge should report immediately to the MWO so appropriate action can be taken. 

Mendez calls for better protection instead of more exactions on OFWs

But according to Bayan HK’s Baneng Mendez, one of the protest organizers, OFWs who are in HK should not feel relieved by the assurance that only the new arrivals will be covered by the jacked-up fee.

“Kahit di tayo affected, mas lalo tayong dapat magalit kasi kapwa natin OFWs ang apektado. Hindi pa nga sila kumikita, ginagatasan na,” said Mendez in her speech during the picket.

(Even if we are not affected, we should be enraged even more because our fellow OFWs will be hit. Before they start earning money, they are already being milked dry).

It's also not true that the cost will not be passed on to the new hires because they know that if they don't pay up, they will not be able to leave the country, she said.

Mendez also rued the lack of prior notice or consultation, when Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac himself came to Hong Kong only recently, and did not mention anything about the fee increase.

She also said that OFWs should not keep quiet about the higher fees because if they do, the government will just continue extracting more money from them, while failing to provide enough assistance and benefits.

Protesters ask why Secretary Cacdac did not mention the fee increase during a recent visit to HK

Both officials explained to the protesters that the higher fee should have been collected as early as last year, after the Hong Kong government gave its consent. Before this, all other Philippine posts abroad (except in Taiwan where a different mechanism is in place) had already started implementing the new fee schedule, according to them.

Labatt Chavez said that when he took office in December last year, he immediately saw the oversight, and asked the head office for a deferment of the collection, as he knew he would be answerable to the government if the circular was not implemented. Failing to receive a response to this request, he decided to go ahead and announced the new fee.

Contrary to claims that no consultation was made with concerned parties, he said this would have been done a long time ago in the Philippines, though it would have involved the recruitment agencies primarily, as they would be the ones most affected by the increase.

Thus, the agencies, both in the Philippines and in Hong Kong, should have known about the increase long before it was announced here, he said.

Despite the uniform fee of HK$320 now being charged by MWO for verifying new employment contracts, he said this is still lower than the HK$390 that Indonesia charges for the same service.

But both officials said it was unfortunate that the fee hike had to be implemented at a time when Filipinos were still smarting from the massive corruption uncovered in flood control projects in the country,  making OFWs feel that the money lost from the anomaly is being unfairly passed on to them.

 

 

Pinay jailed 3 years for “laundering” $2.27M

 

A Filipina was jailed for three years after a trial at Fan Ling Court or two counts of money laundering, in which a total of $2.27 million flowed in and out of her two bank accounts in 2023 and 2024.

Jenebeth Abogador, 41 years old, received identical two-year sentences for each of the charges, but Magistrate Kenneth Chan ordered that one year of the second sentence be made to run at the same time as the first.

In addition, Magistrate Chan ordered Abogador to pay $1,630 as costs to the prosecution, to be taken from her bail.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Abogador was charged with dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offense, contrary to sections 25(1) and 25(3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

In the first case, a total sum of $1,164,448.40 “in whole or in part directly or indirectly represented any person's proceeds of an indictable offence,” was deposited in her MOX Bank Limited account between Oct. 23, 2023 and Nov 26, 2023.

She handled the amount with a female known as "Reme" (also known as "Remi Marcos" or "Remie Marcos) and another male known as "Jay", the police complaint said.

Basahin ang detalye!

In the second case, a total sum of $1,111,968.16 was deposited and withdrawn from her account with Hang Seng Bank Limited between Oct. 23, 2023 and dec. 21, 2024.

She was also assisted by "Remie Marcos" and "Jay" in the transactions.

Filipina driver of runaway car in Central guilty of dangerous driving

 

The car that Magsino failed to park properly mowed down a crowd before mounting a pavement

Filipina domestic worker Reshielle L. Magsino haa been taken into custody ahead of her sentencing on March 6 for dangerous driving causing death and serious injury.

Magsino, 48, was convicted of both charges by Tsuen Wan Deputy Magistrate Timothy Casewell on Feb 27, more than four years after the car that the Filipina had parked on a slope on Peel Street in Central rolled downhill, hitting several pedestrians.

One of those hit, French woman Elodie Ma, died in a hospital afterwards while seven others suffered injuries, some of them serious.

DETAILS HERE

The incident happened on Dec. 10, 2021 after Lagurin had gotten off the car along with her employer. The vehicle rolled down at a fast clip and hit the victims while they were standing outside a bar at the corner of Peel Street and Staunton Street.

Magsino had pleaded not guilty to the charges. But in convicting her, the magistrate said she should have ensured the vehicle was safely parked before getting off.

Experts called to testify at the long-delayed trial ruled out mechanical failure, saying the car’s braking and parking systems were working normally.

Basahin ang detalye!

Magsino, who had been on bail, was remanded in custody after the verdict.

The case recalled a similar one that happened in 2018, when a runaway school bus rolled down Cheung Hong Street in North Point and mounted a sidewalk after crossing busy King’s Road, killing five pedestrians along the way and injuring two others.

Investigations revealed the 67-year-old driver Ng Yiu-chung had failed to properly engage the handbrake.

Following the incident Ng was charged with leaving a vehicle without a fixed parking brake, to which he pleaded guilty and received a HK$2,000 fine. However, four years later, the prosecution added two charges against him for causing death by dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm by dangerous driving.

In February last year, District Judge Adrianna Tse permanently halted proceedings for the second charge, and criticised the prosecution for splitting the case, saying that they had tried to mislead the court.

Northeast Monsoon brings rain, low temperature

 

HK skyline at 7:00pm (HK Observatory photo)

Clouds brought by the Northeast Monsoon has descended on Hong Kong, bringing rains that may last until tomorrow night, the Hong Kong Observatory said.

As a result, the Observatory raised the Amber rainstorm warning signal at 7:50 p.m., which means that heavy rain has fallen or is expected to fall generally over Hong Kong, exceeding 30 millimetres an hour, and is likely to continue.

DETAILS HERE

It said flooding is expected in some low-lying and poorly drained areas. “People who are likely to be affected should take necessary precautions to reduce their exposure to risk posed by the heavy rain and flooding,” it added.

The northeast monsoon will also cool the air in Hong Kong in the next couple of days, with temperatures falling from about 22 degrees at midnight to a minimum of around 16 degrees tomorrow night.

Basahin ang detalye!

“Under the influence of a relatively dry replenishment of the monsoon, the weather will improve gradually over southern China in the latter part of this week and over the weekend,” it added.

“The weather will improve gradually in the latter part of this week,” the Observatory said.

Rising after the fire: Jonalyn's story of empowerment

 (Reprinted from "Migrant Focus" of the Mission for Migrant Workers)

Jonalyn shares her story of survival with fellow migrant workers

Jonalyn is one of the survivors of the tragic fire that occurred on November 26 in Tai Po. She has worked in Hong Kong for more than 15 years, serving four different households. Since 2015, she has cared for an elderly person at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.

The elderly woman is a 94-year-old with Parkinson’s disease. For more than ten years, Jonalyn and Por por woke up early each day to walk together and exercise in the park. In the early years of Por por’s illness, her symptoms were severe—her hand trembled and she struggled to control her muscles. Over time Por por’s movement improved as she gradually gained better control. Por por is very emotional; sad news can bring tears easily, and she often cannot sleep when she anticipates her daughter’s visit the next day. Jonalyn’s careful, loving care grew from these moments, forming the foundation of their strong bond.

Their life was quiet and intimate—Jonalyn cooking Por por’s meals, keeping the house tidy, Por por watching her favorite programs. They found a rhythm that felt like family. Jonalyn often spoke of their relationship as “mother and daughter,” forged through trust, love, and mutual care. Their days were not without challenges, yet the small acts of care created a safe harbor for both of them.

PINDUTIN DITO

Then the fire struck. On that day, Jonalyn felt a subtle instinct urging her to stay home. She knew Por por needed her more than ever. When the flames erupted, she woke with fear and used every ounce of courage to shepherd Por por toward safety. They moved through the smoke to the elevator, praying aloud for strength, praying the ride down would be swift. From the 23rd floor, they escaped to the ground floor and looked back at their home, already engulfed. In that moment, Jonalyn was thankful that both of them survived. With a thread of gratitude that bound them, Jonalyn understood survival is not only about escaping danger, but about choosing to keep loving, even when everything else is uncertain. 

Yet survival did not resolve what followed. Soon after, Por por’s daughter terminated Jonalyn’s contract, a decision that felt like a second wound—swift, unexplained, and devastating. She started to doubt, “had her care ever truly mattered? Was her long service simply erased by one sudden moment?" The blow was sharp, and the ache of separation from Por por was deeper still.

Jonalyn is helped on the path to recovery by MFMW and Bethune House

In that darkness, Jonalyn found a lifeline: the Mission For Migrant Workers. She learned of Bethune House, a temporary shelter for women migrants, and there she began to heal in earnest. The shelter became a classroom of collective resilience, as she met and accomplished daily tasks with other migrants in distress there. Journalists visited; she spoke at schools, sharing her story not for pity, but to illuminate a path for others, with others. Each interview, each conversation, helped rebuild a sense of purpose.

Counseling offered through MFMW helped her unpack fear, guilt, and anger. She began to understand her own worth, recognizing that ten years of dedicated care deserved recognition, not erasure. In time, she reconnected with a community of fellow migrants who shared strategies for healing, hope, and advocacy. For the first time in years, Jonalyn allowed herself small joys—time with friends, new hobbies, and the simple luxury of a day off to rest and reflect.

Basahin ang detalye!

Jonalyn’s healing also led to action. When the Tai Po survivors organized, she urged them to step onto the stage with courage, leading to participate in a fashion show as part of One Billion Rising, a powerful voice against violence toward women and girls. She designed a costume, chose music, and learned the dance steps. The experience wasn’t merely a performance; it was an embodiment of connection, a proof that her voice, along with others, could shape change and inspire others.

Her talks with teens at St. Paul’s Church and HKBU, her willingness to share with new audiences, affirmed a truth she had learned in the fire: healing accelerates when we give back. Through conversation and outreach, Jonalyn found a renewed sense of belonging in Hong Kong—a city that could be both a home and a horizon.

Today, she speaks of gratitude, not resignation. “I learned I don’t need to hate to keep moving,” she says. “I can be thankful for the years I cared for Por por, and I can be courageous enough to claim my future.” She remains open to work, to community, and to the possibility that the next chapter will honor her strength, her care, and the courage it takes to heal and empower others.

To fellow migrants who face hardships: don’t give up. Seek guidance, honor your needs, and follow your heart to what’s right. HK remains a place of possibility—where kindness endures, and where a survivor’s voice can light the way for others.

(To know more about the MFMW’s works and how to donate to help them continue helping migrant workers, please click on this link: https://www.migrants.net/to-donate)

 

Mideast conflict kills Filipino caregiver in Israel; ruins travel plans of many OFWs

 

Some of the 80 OFWs assisted by MWO Hong Kong

(UPDATED)

At least one Filipino has been reported killed in the renewed conflict the Middle East.

Mary Ann V. de Vera, a 32-year-old caregiver from Basista, Pangasinan, was killed in a missile attack in Tel Aviv, Israel on the evening of Feb 28. Her identity was confirmed through biometric records by her husband who also works in Israel.

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. announced the death in a video recording published on Sunday night, and extended his condolences.

The latest outbreak of violence was sparked by the US-Israel bombing in Iran which killed the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,a and stranded travellers to and from the affected areas, many of them overseas Filipino workers.

Hong Kong, a stopover for many OFWs bound for the Middle East, has 80 stranded OFWs because their flights to the Middle East had been cancelled, according to the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) Hong Kong.

An MWO Team is at the airport to give guidance, food and basic needs and referrals if needed. The team will remin at the airport to help the OFWs. It urged thise who know of anyone stranded in Hong Kong International Airport to call its hotline: (+852) 5529-1880.

PINDUTIN DITO

Filipinos needing urgent assistance can also call its round-the-clock hotline at +972 54 466 1188.

The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah advises Filipino travelers with upcoming flights entering or leaving the Kingdom to contact their respective airlines in anticipation of possible flight disruptions.

President Fardinand R. Marcos Jr. said: “Sa ngayon, wala tayong natatanggap na ulat na may Pilipinong nasawi o nasaktan. Patuloy ang ating pagbabantay para sa kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan. (Right now we have not received reports of Filipinos killed or injured. We are continuing to monitor, to ensure the welfare of our people.”

Basahin ang detalye!

He earlier directed the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Migrant Workers and Philippine embassies across the Middle East to activate contingency measures to ensure the safety of Filipinos.

According to DMW, 1.113 million Filipinos live and work in the Middle East as of December 2025. United Arab Emirates accounted for 397,892; Saudi Arabia, 386,699; Qatar, 160,890; Kuwait, 106,364; Bahrain, 21,129 and Isarel, 7,473 OFWs.

The Philippine embassies in the Middle East have urged their constituents to "remain calm and follow official advisories," while staying indoors or seeking shelter away from military sites.

Filipino nationals are advised to remain vigilant and exercise prudence at this time.

* Ensure that important documents, such as passports and iqamas, are readily accessible.

* Stay updated through reliable news sources and official advisories.

* Remain at home and limit movement unless absolutely necessary.

* Maintain at least three (3) days’ supply of food, water, medicines, and other essential items. Keep your communication devices charged.

* Avoid mass gatherings and crowded areas.

As this developed, the Defense Department said it is ready to mobilize its facilities to bring the Filipinos home if it becomes necessary.

Migrante HK hits out at 400% increase in verification fee for new contracts

 

Militant migrant group Migrante Hong Kong has denounced the four-fold increase in the verification fee for new employment contracts submitted to the Migrant Workers Office starting Sunday, Mar 1.

The group is set to stage a picket outside the Philippine Consulate offices on the same day to protest against what they called an unconscionable exaction on Filipino migrant workers.

“Maliwanag pa sa (sikat) ng araw na isa na naman itong porma ng pangongotong. Wala na talagang pakundandangan ang gobyernong Marcos, Jr. sa pagturing sa mga OFW bilang negosyo, imbes na bigyan ng maayos na proteksyon at pagbutihin ang serbisyo sa mga OFW,” said a statement issued by Migrante HK early on Saturday.

PINDUTIN DITO

(This is clearly another form of exaction. The government of Marcos Jr is really bent on treating overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as commodities, instead of providing them greater protection and better service).

Under the new fee schedule released by the MWO on Friday, all new individual employment contracts submitted for verification from March 1 will be charged a fee of HK$320, instead of the current HK$80.

All existing contracts that will be extended with the same employer, or transferred to a new one, will be verified at the old rate.

The fee, as before, is supposed to be paid by the employer or the recruitment agency after Immigration approves the contract, and issues an employment visa to the worker. 

Basahin ang detalye!

Only those with verified contracts can apply for the overseas employment certificate, which serves as an exit pass when they leave the Philippins for work abroad.

Thomas Chan, head of the HK Union of Employment Agencies, has also criticized the new fee as being too steep, and is one that will likely be opposed by everyone involved.

Chan also said that some workers might be forced to pay the fee themselves to appease employers who might be outraged by the jacked-up amount.

Migrante HK said that with the widely-reported increase in the budget allocation of the Department of Migrant Workers, there should be no reason why it would raise the verification fee, especially not by 400%.

“Para tayong binusuhan ng asin sa sugat, lalo na at hindi pa napapanagot ang lahat ng sangkot sa malalang korapsyon sa bansa,” said Migrante HK.

(This was like rubbing salt to our wound, especially since not all of those linked to massive corruption in the country have been held to account).

The group said it would not keep quiet in the face of the new exaction on OFWs, and vowed to continue protesting until the Philippine government backtracks on the issue.

 

Pag-IBIG Fund posts highest yield in 5 years

 

Pag-IBIG membership (Regular Savings) opens up loan opportunities

People who put their savings in Pag-IBIG Fund (otherwise known as Home Development Mutual Fund) earned more last year than in the previous five years, according to its annual report.

The Pag-IBIG 2025 dividend rates are 6.62% yearly for Pag-IBIG Regular Savings, and 7.12% yearly for Pag-IBIG MP2 Savings.

The 2025 rate for regular savings, which comprise the monthly membership payments that open up a wide variety of housing and cash loan schemes, was the highest since 2020. The rates stood at 6.60% in 2024, 6.55% in 2023, 6.53% in 2022, 5.50% in 2021 and 5.62% in 2020.

PINDUTIN DITO

The regular savings can be withdrawn upon maturity or when one retires.

The same was true with MP2, a voluntary savings program in which members can withdraw their dividends yearly or every five years, whose rates stood at 7.10% in 2024, 7.05% in 2023, 7.03% in 2022, 6.00% in 2021 and 6.12% in 2020.

The steady rise in earnings reflected the Fund’s strong financial performance and prudent investment strategy, Pag-IBIG Fund said.

It said its investment income rose nearly 50% to ₱9.43 billion in 2025.

Basahin ang detalye!

The stronger investment earnings helped lift Pag-IBIG Fund’s overall financial standing. At year-end 2025, the agency’s total assets rose to ₱1.23 trillion, while its gross investment portfolio increased to ₱190.13 billion, up ₱55.27 billion or 41.0% from year-end 2024.

A large portion of the portfolio was invested in government securities, with the remainder placed in time deposits, corporate bonds and preferred shares, officials said, adding that these instruments undergo rigorous review and are subject to established safeguards.

“Our commitment is clear: every peso earned is returned to our members in the form of higher dividends and stronger programs,” Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary and Pag-IBIG Fund Board Chairman Jose Ramon P. Aliling stated.

Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta added: “This milestone is the result of sound fiscal management and the continued trust of our members. We remain focused on growing their savings and securing their financial future.”

MWO raises verification fee for new employment contracts to HK$320

 

The new fee schedule

From Sunday, March 1, the verification fee for all new employment contracts processed through the Migrant Workers Office in Hong Kong will shoot up to HK$320.

For new individual contracts, whether for single or multiple hirings, this will result to a four-fold increase from the current HK$80.

For all other contracts, processed either through job orders, recruitment agreement or master employment contract, the current fee of HK$240 will also be adjusted by a third, to HK$320.

See details

The same fee will apply to all contracts covering sea-based workers, which are currently being processed. From HK$240 the processing fee will be adjusted to HK$320.

The MWO said in its advisory that the new fee should be paid, as before, either by the employer or the recruitment or manning agency that deployed the overseas Filipino worker (OFW).

It also said all old contracts, meaning those being renewed with the same employer, or are transferred to a new employer, will not be affected; which means they will still be processed at the current fee of HK$80.

Basahin ang detalye!

The announcement of the new fee which was apparently made without prior consultation with stakeholders, was met with disappointment by some employment agency operators.

HKUEA president Thomas Chan says the new fee is too steep

Thomas Chan, president of the Hong Kong Union of Employment Agencies, said the new verification fee is too steep compared with the current fee, especially for employers processing individual contracts.

“Any increase in cost will not be welcomed by anyone,” said Chan, who pointed out that the increase is  way above the cost of inflation.

Also, he said that “though in theory the worker can reimburse the cost from their employer, in reality some workers would be the ones who would shoulder such cost.”

The MWO advisory gave no reason for the hefty increase, but said the new verification fees are in line with Joint Circular 2024-1.

The new fees will apply for all relevant contracts submitted on or after the cut-off date of March 1, 2026.

 

21 arrested in anti-illegal worker operations

 

Immigration officers escort one of those arrested

Twenty-one people were arrested in anti-illegal worker operations by Immigration Department (ImmD) on multiple target locations including restaurants, warehouses and massage parlours last Feb. 16 to 26.

During the operations, ImmD officers arrested 19 suspected illegal workers and two suspected employers.

The arrested workers comprised nine men and 10 women, aged 33 to 58. Among them, three men and two women were holding recognizance forms which prohibit them from taking any employment.

See details

Arrested as employers were two men, aged 48 and 56.

The investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

The arrests were made in a series of territory-wide operations codenamed "Lightshadow", a joint operation with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department codenamed "Flabbergast", and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Champion" and "Windsand".

Basahin ang detalye!

"Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties," ImmD said.

"As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business.” it added.

“Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years."

Deadline nears for business plan contest for OFW women returnees

 

There are only two days remaining before the application period for the LIKHAng Kababaihan Business Plan Competition ends.

A reminder posted on the Department of Migrant Workers Facebook page said the deadline of submission of entries to the contest that aims to help female OFW returnees set up their dream businesses is on Saturday, Feb. 28.

DETAILS HERE

The DMW page describes the contest as a business plan competition specifically designed for female OFW returnees. It offers them “a platform to develop and showcase innovative business plans while providing access seed capital, business coaching and mentorship.”

OFW contestants are ideally those with a passion for starting their own businesses and have already drawn up their path to success with a sound and original business plan that they need to submit to the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) on or before the deadline.

See details

Winning the contest would entitle the returnee-entrepreneur not just with funding support, but also mentorship - and a national recognition for their business idea.

LIKHAng Kababaihan is part of DMW’s Kabuhayan reintegration programs, along with Balik Pinay, Balik Hanapbuhay  program. Apart from providing support for women returnees the program also helps seafarer returnees and landbased OFWs realize their plan to have their own businesses.

Basahin ang detalye!

The link for registration and submission of  entries is here: https://sites.google.com/dmw.gov.ph/likha-ofw/home

𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗙𝗲𝗯 𝟮𝟴, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲