By Vir B. Lumicao
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| Labatt Dizon launches his brainchild while Congen Tejada takes notes |
Filipino workers with simple contract-related transactions
with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office or have queries concerning work will
be able to do so starting Dec 1 by logging into Polo’s new website anytime, anywhere.
The website developed by Polo Hong Kong’s own IT staff was launched Sunday, Nov 29, by Labor Attaché Melchor Dizon, who said its creation was a positive offshoot of the coronavirus pandemic.
Close to 100 guests, led by Consul General Raly Tejada, his deputy Germie Aguilar-Usudan and other PCG officers, media and Filipino community group leaders, attended the launch at Polo’s offices on the 29th floor of the United Centre in Admiralty.
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Dizon said the website is an initiative of Polo Hong Kong to
further improve the delivery of services to the Filipino workers in the city
without breaching the Hong Kong government’s social distancing protocol to
prevent the spread of Covid-19.
He said the salient features of the website are the online computation of claims, online post-arrival orientation seminar (PAOS), appointment booking for contract verification, and access to a list of accredited employment agencies and their status.
“Also on the computations, we further developed it. We made it just like do it yourself,” Dizon said. The labor chief said the website “has a built-in calculator wherein the OFWs can calculate their benefits by themselves when they were terminated or separated from their employment.”
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| Consulate officers came in full force for the Polo website launch |
The website has linkages to sites of related government agencies so one doesn’t have to exit the Polo site and log into, say, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to check the status of a Philippines-based recruitment agency.
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“And also we will also put in some announcements, advisories
and references like the rules and the laws regarding employment here in Hong
Kong,” Dizon said.
Dizon urged the Filcom leaders to disseminate the news to their members correctly and accurately.
ConGen Tejada congratulated Dizon and his team for coming up
with the homegrown website.
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“The website is a tool which can effectively uphold our sworn duty to provide the Filipino community with useful, reliable and, more importantly, up-to-date information,” the consul general said.
“They serve as a guiding light to all who seek the truth and, more importantly, may it be a shining testament to POLO’s transparency and commitment to integrity,” ConGen Tejada said.
The walk-through of the guests to the website was done by Assistant Labor Attaché Angelica Suñga, who demonstrated how OFWs could navigate the site on their own starting Dec 1.
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The key features include making an appointment for verification of contracts, checking the status of accredited agencies (and a list of those whose accreditation had been cancelled), registration for PAOS, and Covid-related information on those who are about to go home to the Philippines, or are coming to Hong Kong.
There is also an OFW Corner where links to other work-related concerns can be found, such as the schedule for various skills training given by OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration), passport application, SSS and PagIBIG sites, even the schedule for the replacement of HKID cards.
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Sunga had one important warning to those who make appointments through the website: “Make sure na darating kayo kasi hindi na kayo makakapag-appointment ulit,” she said.
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| ALA Sunga gives the audience a walk-through the website |
(Make sure you’d come on the appointed date and time because
if you don’t, you can’t make another appointment).
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In this case, the worker will just have to walk in to get her/his contract verified, which could take longer because those with appointments are given priority through a dedicated counter.
She mentioned other unique features of the system, including an alert for passport renewal for those whose documents are valid for just eight months or less; and the registration for PAOS being enabled through email or a Facebook account.
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