Communication key to dealing with job agencies

Improved communication prevents problems with employment agencies

If domestic helpers have much to complain about their employment agencies that placed them in jobs, employers have as much to complain about. In fact, over 100 complaints are filed by employers against them each year, according to the Consumer Council.

The primary responsibility of employment agencies is to handle procedures for bringing domestic helpers to Hong Kong. Problems that arise from this can be avoided by strengthened communication with both employers and helpers, it said.

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“This includes gaining a comprehensive understanding of prospective employers’ needs and domestic helpers’ experience and capabilities in order to make appropriate matching, as well as verifying domestic helpers’ information as far as practicable to fulfil their gatekeeping role,” the Council said.

In cases such as domestic helpers backing out, agencies should notify the employers as soon as possible and provide appropriate assistance, such as arranging substitute domestic helpers or refunds, to enhance consumer confidence, it added.

However, as some agencies require payment of sums ranging from $14,000 to $16,000, which constitutes acceptance of the terms and arrangements, employers should not rush into paying.

“They should carefully read the service agreement or contract before the transaction to understand the refund policy and the terms and conditions for replacing domestic helpers, so as to safeguard their rights,” it added

The Council will continue to closely monitor industry developments and reflect consumers’ concerns to traders in a timely manner, with a view to encouraging service quality enhancement.

Pinay DH reports losing P100k to online ‘scratch and win’’scammers

 

Screenshot of the Facebook page used to entice many of the HK victims

A Filipina domestic helper has reported losing around Php100k to a “scratch and win lottery” scammers that entice victims through live streaming on Facebook, and apparently targets migrant workers.

Loida, 48 years old, said she was encouraged to buy “scratch cards” after seeing the live broadcast on “Scratch Win Live” by the scammers who do not show their faces on screen but can be heard rallying people to join and continuously jotting down the supposed winnings of participants.

Loida said she saw a number of posts in the comments section saying they had received their prizes, which assured her that the lottery was “legit.”

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At first she was told that all she had to pay was HK$220 to the GCash account of someone named “Jeraldine Dela Fuente Sanquez” to get 40 cards that would be scratched to reveal hidden prizes denominated in US dollars.

But after a number of her cards were scratched and her supposed winnings reached more than Php1million, Loida was told she needed to pay the full price of HK$2000 before they could proceed further.

Believing that she had already hit the jackpot but wanted more, Loida readily paid the balance of K$1,780 (Php13,740) to the GCash account of “Jibmmy Saruce Sugeta”.

Not long after, her supposed winnings hit more than Php3 million and Loida was told she needed to use a code to get into a Telegram chat to learn how she could collect her winnings.

On the Telegram app, Loida was informed through chat that she needed to pay a processing fee of Php39,819 to one Justine Carlbuce through the GCash account number +63 9560083207 before she could collect her prize. She immediately complied.

The scammers could only be heard, not seen

But after sending the money, she received a notification with the heading “New York State Gaming Commission” telling her that she needed to pay a “currency conversion fee” as she had asked that her prize money which was in peso be deposited to her Hong Kong bank account.

The amount she was asked to pay this time was Php42,217, to be credited to the GCash account of one Berlinda Z. Cabulao, number +63 9456216542. Though getting wary, Loida did as she was told.

This was after she was shown a message to one Mary Grace supposedly from BDO informing her that her winning of Php1.66 million had already been deposited to her account.

Loida eventually came to her senses when told that she needed to pay another Php72,000 for supposedly sending the wrong code.

'Wrong code' notification

She blew her top and warned that she would inform the NBI about the scam, but was just brushed off. Each time she tried to post a comment on their wall to warn others about the scam, it would be immediately deleted.

To this day, she said she is able to access the page, as well as new ones they have created to continue defrauding people, but all her pleas and threats to get her money back are being ignored.

“Gusto kong isuplong ang mga scammer na ito dahil hindi lang ako ang biktima,” (I want to complain against these scammers because I am not the only victim), Loida told the assistance to nationals section of the Migrant Workers Office.

Indeed, there have been others who were enticed to pay at least HK$2,000 to the gang, most of them Hong Kong-based domestic helpers, according to Maria, who was the only one who managed to stop after sending the initial amount of HK$220.

Maria said that while the scammers claim to be operating in Kowloon Tong, this could not be independently verified, meaning they could actually be based in the Philippines which would explain why the money is always sent to GCash accounts there.

A new Facebook page but the same modus operandi

Maria has gathered a number of the victims after seeing them post on the live feed expressing their interest in joining the scratch scam. Unfortunately all of them had already paid HK$2000 each before she could stop them.

According to Maria, some of the victims had used money they were supposed to use to pay off loans in paying the scammers. Loida herself said she had set aside the money she lost to the scammers for her child’s upcoming graduation.

What’s more sad is that this was not the first time Loida had been scammed. About six years ago she was enticed to put HK$40,000 into an investment scheme offered by a person she had treated as kin. The fellow domestic helper who shared her surname disappeared after moving with her employer to a new home without telling her.

 

 

Pinay jailed 12 months for ATM used in money laundering

 

A domestic helper who claimed she threw away her ATM card that ended up being used for money laundering, was jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty at Easterm Court to dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence

Chery Morbo, 31 years old, had reported to police that her HSBC account, opened in August 2024, was used for laundering $132,100 after five deposits and nine withdrawals were reported to her by her bank over a five-day period.

She was arrested four months later and had been in remand for four months.

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In sentencing, Principal Magistrate David Cheung set a starting point of 18 months’ jail and deducted one-third as a discount for her guilty plea.

Morbo was charged with violating sections 25 (1) and 25 (3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance, because $132,100 in crime money passed though her bank account between Feb. 17 and 22, 2025.

 “This is a case of being taken advantage of,” her lawyer said. He said she did not operate the account and there was no evidence she knew the predicate offense (from which the money was derived by persons unknown).

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Still, he said, she was remorseful for the crime, and was aware that this ended her work opportunity in Hong Kong.

After graduating from college with an economics degree, she worked in Jordan and Saudi Arabia before coming to Hong Kong.

Pinay gets 3 month jail for stealing watch, 2 Octopus cards and using them

 

The employers lived in this neighborhood (Google Maps photo)

A Filipina who stole a watch and two Octopus cards owned by her employer’s child and used them three times for purchases, was jailed for three months today after pleading guilty to six counts of theft at Eastern Court.

J. Acaton, 26 years old, was actually sentenced by Principal Magistrate David Cheung to two months for the five charges related to the theft and use of the Octopus card, which he ordered to run concurrently, and one month for the theft of the watch.

In addition, he ordered her to compensate her employer $81.80, representing the value of goods she  bought with the Octopus card.

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According to the complaint filed by Police, Acaton was was charged with theft, contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance, after she stole one child Octopus card between Feb. 16 and 28, 2026 in their flat at Crown Terrace, Pokfulam.

She stole another Child Octopus card during the same period at the same place.

She then used the Octopus cards in making purchases of $19.90 at PARKnSHOP in Tin Wan 17 Shopping Centre in Aberdeen on feb. 20, HK$38.9 on Feb. 23 at the same store, and $23 at a McDonald’s at Tin Wan, Aberdeen on Feb. 26.

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Acaton also stole one Skmei Watch worth $300 on Feb. 28 at the employers’ flat.

Meanwhile, at Kowloon City Court, A.M. Valle, 59 years old, was sentenced to two weeks, suspended for 12 months, after she pleaded guilty to theft.

She admitted stealing four red packets containing $140 in cash, the property of Wong Kwan Yiu at their flat at Harbour Place, Hung Hom. Kowloon on Feb. 21.

 

Police look for Filipina DH suspected of $100k theft

Beverly Villa in Kowloon Tong (Centaline photo)

A 41-year-old Filipina domestic helper has been reported as missing, along with some $100,000 cash belonging to her 98-year-old employer.

According to reports, the employer surnamed Yeung called up the police at 4:57pm on April 11 and claimed the cash had gone missing from her flat at Beverly Villa in Kowloon Tong.

PINDUTIN ITO PARA SA DETALYE

Officers who went to the residence reportedly suspected the helper who was living there and had disappeared, had taken the money.

The case has been classified as theft and police are looking for the helper.

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When asked about the supposedly missing Filipina, officers at the Philippine Consulate General said they have yet to receive a report from the police about the case.

2 theft charges land DH in jail custody

 

West Kowloon Court

A domestic helper has been remanded in jail until the hearing of the two theft charges against her after West Kowloon's principal magistrate adjourned the case to June 10.

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Elizabeth Padre, 55 years old, is scheduled for plea by Principal Magistrate Don So on two counts of theft, contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance.

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In a complaint filed by Police, Padre was accused of stealing an assortment of jewelry and cash of $4,000,; which are the property of he employer Lal Yee-sin Kimedonia, betwoon May 12, 2022 and Oct. 23, 2025 at their flat in Rhine Garden, Sham Tseng, Tsuen Wan.

The second case of theft arose after she allegedly stole another assortment of jewellery and cash of $25,000 between May 12 and Oct. 23, 2025.

Consequences of overstaying, starting a business

 

Two Filipinos facing breach of condition of stay charges – one for overstaying and another for establishing a food business – had contrasting endings to their cases after they pleaded guilty on Friday at the Shatin Court.

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Gener Gordolan, 38 years old and an asylum seeker, was jailed for 12 weeks after pleading guilty to breach of condition of stay, contrary to section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance.

Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong set a starting point of 18 weeks imprisonment as penalty but gave him a one-third discount for his guilty plea.

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A complaint fled by the Immigration department said Gordolan overstayed his visa for almost four years, from Sept. 11, 2021 to Aug.  19, 2025.

He was permitted to land in Hong Kong as a tourist by an Immigration assistant by virtue of section 11 of the Immigration Ordinance and given two weeks to stay.

A domestic helper, E. Valdez, 49 years old, got off lightly when her charge of breach of condition of stay was withdrawn after she accepted a bind-over agreement under which she need not be punished if she does not reoffend for 12 months.

Otherwise, she will be fined $ 1,000.

She was charged after she was arrested in July 6, 2025 for selling food in Central.

Her condition of stay was that she must only take employment approved by the Director of Immigration, which is to work as a domestic helper for Tang Kit Mui at the address specified in their employment contract.

15 persons arrested in latest anti-illegal work raids

 

Those arrested included 12 suspected illegal workers 

Two recognizance paper holders seeking asylum in a third country were among 15 people arrested last week in the latest anti-illegal work sweep by the Immigration Department. 

Of those arrested, 12 – six men and six women - are suspected of having worked illegally. The remaining three, aged 34 to 46, are believed to have acted as employers.

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The operations which were carried out from April 2 to 9 targeted multiple locations including restaurants, warehouses and massage parlors.

A statement issued by Immigration said an investigation of the suspected employers is continuing, and the possibility of further arrests cannot be ruled out.

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The statement also warned all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers.

“The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences,” said the statement.

Employers are subject to a maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for up to 10 years.

Sentencing guidelines make it the employer’s duty to take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment.

Apart from inspecting the jobseeker’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make inquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers do not cast any reasonable doubt as to the applicant’s employability.

In the statement, Immigration also warned that engaging in illegal work is a serious offence in Hong Kong, for which the maximum sentence is two years’ imprisonment and a fine of $50,000.

If the offender is a recognizance paper holder subject to removal or deportation, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, the maximum jail term is three years.

Further, the Chief Executive may issue a deportation order against an immigrant who has been sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years, which carries with it a permanent ban on the offender.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pinay’s cooperation in probe postpones sentencing for fraud

 

Immigration Department is prosecuting the case

The Shatin Court today postponed the sentencing of a Filipina who pleaded guilty to  presenting fake employment contracts to get an employment visa from the Immigration Department, after she expressed willingness to help authorities in prosecuting those who conspired with her.

PINDUTIN ITO PARA SA DETALYE

Magistrate Jeffrey Sze convicted Desiree Bernabe, 47 years old, on two counts of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law and punishable under section 159C(6) of the Crimes Ordinance, but adjourned to June 5 for mention. He set a bail of $500.

In the first charge, Bernabe is accused of applying for a domestic helper’s visa using a fake employment contract between an unknown day in May 2025 and June 26, 2025, after her previous contract expired.

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She admitted conspiring with an agent known as Jacky, to defraud the Director of Immigration and his officers by dishonestly and falsely representing to the Immigration Department that she would work for a certain So Kam Lo as a domestic helper.

This was intended to induce Immigration officials to grant her permission to enter and remain in Hong Kong in circumstances which they would not otherwise have granted, the complaint filed by Immigration said.

She allegedly paid $17,500 for the services of the agent.

When this application was disapproved, she again applied at the Immigration Department between June 26, 2025 and Oct. 22, 2025, conspiring with persons known as Jacky and Jimmy.

This time, the employer in the contract is Kwan Yun Pak.

She was arrested by Immigration officers shortly after.

 

Fuel subsidy eyed for Hong Kong

CE Lee chairs the meeting on how HK should respond to rising fuel prices

The Hong Kong government is proposing a HK$3 subsidy for every liter of diesel over two months, as part of measures to cushion the impact of the recent surge in fuel prices due to the conflict in the Middle East.

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The measure came at the end of a special meeting called by Chief Executive John Lee on Thursday, during which he was briefed by the newly created Inter-departmental Task Force on Monitoring Fuel Supply (the Task Force).

According to the government, the subsidy to be extended to commercial vehicles and vessels would cost HK$1.8 billion

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"[This is] to support diesel-powered public or commercial vehicles and vessels as well as related industries, thereby reducing their operating costs and alleviating pressure to raise prices," the government said in a statement.

At the same time, the relevant government agencies will monitor the pricing practices of oil companies to ensure nobody gets to take advantage of the crisis situation to make profit.

Public transport services which are highly susceptible to the fluctuations in diesel prices like school and residential buses will be given top priority for the subsidy.

Another stop-gap measure is to give 50% discount on the tunnel tolls of commercial vehicles, a move that would cost an estimated HK$160 million in public funds. This is to ensure the supply chain for basic food stuff remains open.

To ensure prudence in government spending, the twin moves will last only for two months.

The proposals will now go to the Legislative Council for approval. The Legco finance committee is due to meet today to vet the government’s funding request.

In the meantime, officials will closely monitor developments in the Middle East conflict and its effect on prices to make policy adjustments if necessary.

Week-long heatwave forecast for HK

 

Hikers who plan to venture out this weekend must keep themselves hydrated  (File)

Warm and humid days are forecast for Hong Kong starting Friday and will last for at least seven days.

The HK Observatory forecasts temperatures ranging between 25 and 30 degrees until Thursday next week, before gradually dipping slightly the next day.

The heat is expected to intensify on Saturday and Sunday, though there will be one or two isolated showers.

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It will be mainly fine from Monday, though remaining hot during the day.

The heat is expected to peak from next Tuesday until Thursday, when temperatures are forecast to hit a maximum of 31 degrees, making these the hottest days so far this year.

Friday and Saturday next week will be significantly cooler with the approach of a trough of low pressure. Temperatures will range between 24 and 28 degrees.

Just last Monday, the Observatory warned that Hong Kong could experience record-breaking heat this year due to global warming.  

“With the possibility of El Niño development later this year and the continued warming of the climate, the annual mean temperature in Hong Kong is expected to be above normal this year with a high chance of reaching the warmest top 10 on record,” a press release from the Observatory said.

The warning came after Hong Kong experienced its hottest winter on record.

The World Meteorological Organization (MWP) said in a report that the planet’s climate is more out of balance now than at any time in history. Earth is said to be gaining much more heat energy than it can release.

DH in jail 10 months for theft

 

Development where theft was committed (Google Maps photo)

A domestic helper was sentenced to 10 months in jail today after pleading guilty to theft of cash and jewelry from her employer.

Jocelyn Ferrer, 32 years old, appeared before Principal Magistrate Don So at the West Kowloon Court, charged with theft, contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance.

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She stole two pairs of earrings, three necklaces, two rings, one pendant, cash of 30,000 Japanese yen, cash of US$300, cash of 2,000RMB, the property of Xiu Yuan.

Ferrer admitted committing the crime between Oct. 27, 2025 and Dec. 27, 2025 inside their flat at Imperial Seafront, in Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon.

Pinay denies role in $1.1M money laundering; verdict set

 

The Eastern Court today put off its verdict on a Filipina accused of money laundering, whose defense was that she did not know she had a bank account that was used for deposits and withdrawals of $1.1 million that was derived from an investment scam.

Deputy Magistrate Ho Tsz-chun adjourned the case of Daisy Eugenio, 53 years old, to April 24 for verdict.

Eugenio testified in today’s trial that she was surprised when police arrested her when she went to the Immigration Department to extend her employment visa on March 14, 2025.

“I did not know I had a Mox bank account,” she said. She insisted she had only one bank account, which she opened in 1997 with the Philippine National Bank in Central through which she remits money to her family in Pangasinan.

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Eugenio was charged with 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.

She was accused of allowing her Mox Bank account to handle $1,125,995.38, deposited and withdrawn within 11 days from Jan. 7 to Jan. 17, 2024, “knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that property… in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, represented any person's proceeds of an indictable offence.”

The prosecutor said the money came from two investors who were attracted by a Facebook ad that promised high interest rates on their money through a fake investment platform

The first victim, he said, poured over $1 million into the platform by depositing most of that amount in Eusebio’s account. The second transferred a total of $704,000 to several bank accounts, including Eusebio’s. All this took place within 11 days.

Eusebio’s lawyer said the two victims fell for a scheme of people they barely knew.

Similarly, he said, Eusebio was unaware of an online bank called Mox when a Chinese man and a Filipino woman approached her and two friends in a Wanchai park.

The two said they had a promo that offered a 20 percent discount on purchases of $300 or more at Giordano and Bossini. In return, they needed to register their HKID, which they could then use to get the discount in Giordano and Bossini outlets anywhere in Hong Kong.

They also offered to give two of the three gifts available -- a bag perfume or t shirt – if the registration is successful.

After taking a picture of their HKID, the Chinese man took their “selfies” Eusebio testified.

Her lawyer said Eusebio did not realize the man had opened a Mox account in her name until she was arrested at the Immigration Department months later.

DFA announces delay in passport release

 

The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila says passport applications filed from the last week of March may not be released on time as before due to “logistical and supply chain issues” linked to the Middle East conflict.

A statement released by DFA today, Wednesday, said it may take between 10 to 15 working days for new passports to be released until further notice. 

This means that the wait may be longer if the passport application was made overseas. Currently there is already a waiting time of from six to eight weeks for passports where the application was made abroad.

Overseas posts are advising applicants to give an allowance of at least eight months before their passport expiration as travelers are normally required to have passports that have at least six months' validity before they are allowed to go abroad.

DFA says it is working with its printing provider to get operations back to normal.

In the meantime, Filipinos who are abroad are advised to coordinate with the consular or foreign service post nearest to them for additional information.

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The announcement comes in the wake of numerous complaints aired over social media about unexplained delays in the release of their passports.

40K Middle East-bound OFWs stranded in Manila

 

These newly repatriated OFWs from Qatar add to the rising number of jobless Filipinos

More than 40,000 overseas Filipino workers are reportedly stranded in Manila amid the worsening conflict in the Middle East, which has resulted in a deployment ban being imposed on most countries in the region.

This is apart from the more than 4,000 OFWs who have been repatriated from Middle East countries since war broke out between Iran and United States-Israeli forces.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the government is ready to assist all those who have lost their jobs, adding that there are 200,000 job orders in various countries now being offered to the displaced workers.

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Cacdac also said the stranded workers may also avail of the livelihood assistance and training being offered by the Department of Migrant Workers to repatriated Filipinos.

He added the group were given financial assistance before leaving their workplace and on arrival in the Philippines.

Apart from Iran and Israeli, the countries where OFW deployment has been suspended include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, along with Gaza, Syria, and Yemen. A total deployment ban is in force in Iraq and Lebanon.

The stranded workers are mostly staying at accommodation center of their recruitment agencies, while others have gone back to their provinces. There are also those who were on vacation or were about to return to their workplaces when the war broke out.

With no end in sight to the conflict, experts say the deployment to the Middle East could seriously decline in the second and third quarters of the year.

Latest reintegration fair also targets stranded OFWs 

But as the crisis cuts deeper into the country, about half of those who recently returned are said to be planning to return abroad once the situation in the region stabilizes.

 “Many of our returning OFWs, just about 50 percent, still plan to go back (to work abroad)… Why? Because they have valid employment visas. There is no problem with that. It only means they were able to properly ask permission from their employers to go home,” Cacdac said on the sidelines of a reitegration fair.

Those who do not wish to return to the Middle East will be helped in going to another country abroad if they so wish, while those who want to try their luck in the Philippines will be enrolled in a suitable reintegration program.

Meanwhile, 88 Filipinos from Qatar were brought home on two separate flights over the weekend. They took the number of repatriated OFWs from across the Middle East to 4,241.