HK FDW group hits out at call to freeze their salary

 

AMCB demands a minimum 'living wage' of $6712 for foreign domestic workers

A multi-ethnic group of foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong has blasted at a call made recently by a pro-employer organization to freeze their monthly minimum wage which now stands at $4,990.

The Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB) said in a statement issued Sunday that FDWs should not be used as “scapegoats” for the hardships experienced by employers.

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“The Hong Kong government must address the crisis,” said the AMCB.

Recently, the Quadripartite Alliance for Harmonious Employment Practices staged a protest outside the Labor Department office in Sheung Wan to call for a freeze of the minimum allowable wage set for FDWs, in light of the recent economic downturn, and a spike in the unemployment figure.

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The AMCB is calling for a monthly salary of at least $6,172 which they say is the least that migrant workers and their families need to be able to live more comfortably. If food allowance is provided, this should be at least $3,123 a month.

According to the AMCB reaction, the current MAW of $4,990 is already very low, as FDWs remain excluded from the statutory minimum wage in Hong Kong, even if they, too, are affected by the rising inflation, and spend part of their salary here.

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Apart from the low wages, FDWs also suffer from having to work long hours because they live with their employers, said AMCB.

“If the employers are struggling, they should demand the Hong Kong government to address the unemployment rate, stop the inflation and other fees and expenses like house rent, transportation, etc,” AMCB added.

Hong Kong’s Labour Department is currently conducting its annual review of the MAW, and has sought the opinion of stakeholders, including AMCB and a number of non-government organizations supporting higher wages for FDWs.

 

HK Immigration raids illegal dental clinic allegedly run by Filipino DHs

 

Immigration officers usher the 6 fake dentists from their 'dirty' clinic to a waiting van

Six Filipino domestic helpers have been arrested for allegedly providing illegal dental services from a subdivided unit in Sham Shui Po, which immigration officers have described as dirty and unhygienic

The six, all women aged 34 to 60, were providing the unlicensed dental treatments, with two of them acting as “dentists” while the other four served as their assistants.

Thirteen other Filipinos were found inside the makeshift clinic, apparently customers seeking treatment.

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Chief Immigration Office Tai Koon-ho said at a press conference that none of those arrested possesses professional dental qualifications or training.

Some of them claimed to have learned dentistry through online videos, while one said she had worked as a dental assistant in the Philippines.

Yet, they provided dental services such as teeth cleaning, orthodontic treatment and even denture making to fellow FDWs, charging between $150 and $500 per procedure.-

Tai said initial investigations revealed the group operated in their secluded base every Sunday, attracting clients through word-of-mouth endorsements.

Seized in the raid were various instruments for teeth cleaning, braces and denture making.

Officers were appalled at the hygiene conditions in their place of operation, calling them “deplorable.”

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"The so-called surgery room merely contained a sofa, distilled water, tissues, towels, air fresheners, a wash basin and rudimentary surgical instruments.

"When we arrested the so-called dentists, they were wearing ordinary clothes. There was no evidence that their clothing, medical supplies or tools had undergone any sterilisation.

"Medical waste was also discarded haphazardly, posing a significant risk of cross-infection,” said Tai.

 The six are now being held on suspicion of violating their conditions of stay and for practicing dentistry without registration, and are expected to be charged.

 None of their employers were reportedly aware of their illicit activities.

Immigration warns more arrests could follow while they continue their investigation.

2 Pinay DHs get jail sentences for theft

 

Filipina admitted stealing jewelry and cash (Photo for illustration only)

Two Filipina domestic helpers today pleaded guilty to stealing money and jewelry from their employers, and were jailed for 12 months and two months, respectively.

Jovy Santiago, 32 years old, received  the one-year  sentence from a Acting Principal Magistrate Daniel Tang Siu-hung after she pleaded guilty at Tuen Mun Court to stealing $211,800 worth of jewelry and cash from her employer’s home in Shek Wu Ting in Pat Heung, Yuen Long.

The stolen items consisted of a pair of gold bracelets worth $85,000, two gold bracelets worth $20,000, two diamond rings worth $58,800, one baby gold bracelet worth $8,000, one gold ring worth $18,000, HK$5,000 in cash, 10,000 renminbi in cash, and one necklace worth $7,000.

The thefts were committed between Feb. 1 and March 3 this year, according to the brief facts filed in court by the Yuen Long Police.

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In a separate case, Aubrey Canusa, 37 years old, was jailed for two months by Magistrate Li Chi-ho, after she pleaded guilty in West Kowloon Court to stealing a wallet containing $25,000 from her employer who lived at Banyan Garden on Lai Chi Kok Road in Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon.

The theft took place on an unknown date between Jan. 22 and May 1 this year, according to information filed by the Sham Shui Po Police.

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Meanwhile, a third Filipina accused of theft was remanded in jail after her case was adjourned by Acting Principal Magistrate David Cheung at Eastern Court.

Magistrate Cheung set a hearing for Mylyn Masajo, 34 years old, on September 23 for plea.

She is accused of eight counts of theft allegedly committed between Feb. 15 and June 5 this year at her employer’s home in Harbour Heights in North Point.

 

 

 

Shops pull out sodas from shelves following urine contamination case

 

Police brief the press on case (The Standard photo)

If you can’t find Coca Cola Plus and 7-Up in Wellcome or ParkNShop these days, no need to worry. They were pulled out as an offshoot of a nasty vendetta but will be back soon.

The two brands of softdrinks were pulled from their shelves as a precaution following a case in West Kowloon where a 63-year-old man surnamed Law refilled bottles of the two soda brands with his own urine and then returned them to a supermarket’s shelves as retaliation for its staff being rude.

The offense came to light after a nine-year-old boy purchased a contaminated bottle of Coke Plus, felt unwell after drinking it and was taken to hospital. It was found later that the Coke Plus he drank was contaminated with urine.

His mother complained to police, who traced the contaminated bottle to Law.

 

Basahin ang detalye!

Alerted by police, supermarket staff inspected their shelves and found more tampered bottles, which they removed from shelves.

Wellcome said it takes the incident very seriously and has pulled the two soda brands from its stores to inspect the bottles if they had been contaminated. 

ParkNShop said all branches have been instructed to remove these two items from shelves and step up store inspections, although it has yet to receive customer complaints about contaminated products.

Police have arrested the unemployed suspect who lived alone in Sham Shui Po. Seized from him were clothes, a backpack, a bottle of urine, and several unopened soda bottles.

In a statement, the police condemned the suspect’s actions as "not only a food safety violation but also a vile crime" as it poses a serious public health risk.

He is expected to face criminal charges at the West Kowloon Court.

Chikungunya cases in HK remain at 5, but anti-mosquito drive strengthened

 

 Port Health Division staff members conduct an inspection at the Hong Kong-Macau
Ferry Terminal to strengthen anti-mosquito measures

No new case of chikungunya fever was reported today and the number of this year’s cases remains at five, but the Hong Kong government continues to strengthen efforts in mosquito control and elimination to prevent an outbreak.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said it will continue to strengthen its surveillance work and advised residents to maintain strict environmental hygiene, control of the Aedes albopictus mosquito whch spreads the disease, and personal protective measures to avoid mosquito bites both locally and when travelling outside of Hong Kong.

CHP said all five CF cases this year were imported. From 2016 to 2019, between one and 11 CF cases were recorded in Hong Kong each year, all of which were also imported cases.

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“In view of the occurrence of multiple imported cases in Hong Kong,” the CHP said, “the risk of secondary local transmission via mosquitoes exists.”

The CHP will again remind doctors to arrange testing for patients with CF symptoms, regardless of travel history. The CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch will provide free testing to ensure rapid diagnosis.

The CHP also appealed to the public, through information campaigns such as Info Stations across various districts in Hong Kong and health talks at more than 300 health promotion activities provided to the elderly and their carers, to observe precautions for preventing CF.

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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) also appealed to members of the public to help carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as soft drink cans and lunch boxes.

The FEHD also advised members of the public and estate management bodies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.

“The effectiveness of mosquito control relies on the concerted efforts and active participation of stakeholders from various sectors, including pest control operators in both public and private sectors, venue management and the general public, to prevent CF,” FEHD said.

 

PCG witnesses re-installation of Rizal marker on D’Aguilar street

 

Congen Israel (with lanyard) was among those who witnessed the marker's reinstallation

Officers of the Philippine Consulate led by Consul General Romulo Israel attended the re-installation of a commemorative plaque at No 5, D’Aguilar Street in Central where the national hero, Dr. José Rizal, used to have his ophthalmic clinic.

Staff at the Hong Kong Antiquities and Monuments Office Hong Kong led by assistant curator Sam Wu installed a replacement plaque on July 18 after the previous one was taken off during maintenance work on Century Square building.

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The historical marker, originally installed in 2012, marks the spot of Dr Rizal’s clinic which he ran along with a second one on nearby Duddel Street, when he lived in the city between 1891 and 1892. 

A separate plaque has been placed on Rednaxela Terrace in Mid-Levels, where Dr Rizal had his residence.

The new marker should be able to withstand the test of time better

HKAMO decided to replace the original metal marker with a new one which retains its original content, but is made of polyurethane plastic which can better withstand natural wear and tear or unintended pressure.

Consul General Israel was joined by Vice Consul Alan Revote, head of the cultural section, as well asrepresentatives of Sentro Rizal Hong Kong and Knights of Rizal, in witnessing the installation of the new marker on the exact spot where the main door of the building used to be during Dr Rizal’s stay there more than a century ago.

Apart from the D’Aguilar site, Filipinos and other people interested in Philippine history are encouraged to visit the Rizal markers, as well as the one on Morrison Hill Road Playground in Wan Chai, where the first Philippine flag was sewn.

A marker has also been placed by the Knights of Rizal at the Hong Kong Cemetery in Happy Valley over the grave of Elizabeth Jane McBride Bracken, the mother of Rizal’s common-law wife Josephine Bracken.

 

 

 

 

 

Longtime OFW cancer patient among beneficiaries of DMW’s Aksyon Fund

 

Juvy is always happy to take part in activities organized by Bethune House 

For the past seven years, Juvy Abuan Bustamante has lived with breast cancer, although you may not guess it from the way she looks, and her usually sunny disposition.

Juvy, who has worked in Hong Kong as a domestic helper for the past 30 years, is lucky to have an employer who continues to sign her up despite her condition, allowing her to get much-needed medical treatment at a much lower cost.

This is especially crucial now that Juvy has been told that she will have to undergo chemotherapy for life, after her cancer has progressed to stage 4.

But Juvy who is 56 and single, does not let that dominate her mood and outlook. She continues to work when she’s not undergoing chemo every three weeks, and at the same time, help her fellow overseas Filipino workers through the Mission for Migrant Workers as part of her union activities.

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She also spends time visiting fellow cancer patients who are being supported by the Mission and Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, which have both helped her in the most trying of times, including when she had to undergo mastectomy and had nowhere to go post-surgery. 

MWO HK posted this picture of Aksyon Fund beneficiaries, including Juvy

Last Saturday, she also received financial aid from the Philippine government, through the “Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan” or Aksyon Fund of the Department of Migrant Workers.

The P75,000 she received was part of the second tranche of Aksyon Fund granted to seriously ill and needy OFWs in Hong Kong worth a total of more than Php657,000.

The money was distributed by the Migrant Workers Office to eight OFWs stricken with cancer (breast, colon, cervix and tongue cancer) who each got Php75,000; and  one involved in a labor case, who received Php50,000.00 and PhP7,132.00 for her air fare as part of the Post’s repatriation assistance.

Juvy said she was glad that The SUN had alerted her about the Aksyon Fund, and took her to Social Welfare Attache Rem Marcelino, who ticked off all the documents she needed to bring to get approved for the financial assistance.

Previously, Juvy said she had approached the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to ask for any kind of assistance they could give her, but was dissuaded by the long list of documents  that she was asked to provide.

She is glad that there is now an Aksyon Fund that she could use to pay the token amounts she is charged each time she goes to the hospital for her treatments.

“Salamat at nabibigyan na ng financial support ang mga katulad kong may sakit na malubha, dahil sa tingin ko ay may obligasyon naman talaga ang gobyerno na tumulong dahil sa mga naibayad na namin magmula ang lumabas kami sa Pilipinas,” said Juvy. (Grateful because those who are seriously ill like me are already getting help, because to my mind, I think the government has the obligation to help us because of the amount of money we have contributed since we left the Philippines).

She was particularly grateful to Marcelino who went out of her way to ensure she was only asked for documents that were absolutely necessary to prove her medical condition.

On Marcelino’s advice, Juvy said she would follow up on the progress of a separate application for medical help that she had filed with OWWA.

Armed with what she learned from working on her Aksyon Fund and OWWA applications, Juvy said she should now be able to help fellow OFWs who are struggling to pay their medical bills while trying to hold on to their jobs - and sanity.

According to MWO Hong Kong, the Akyon Fund is in line with “the commitment of DMW Secretary Hans J. Cacdac to provide immediate and effective relief to OFWs in distress, ensuring their safety, security, and well-being.

Officer-in-Charge Antonio R. Villafuerte led the release of funds assisted by Assistant Labor Attaché Nemesia Karen E. Arlan, Attache Marcelino and staff Rio Abegail T. Villonez.

The Aksyon Fund is also available for those who need assistance with their legal cases, repatriation of OFW remains, and other similar interventions to protect the rights and promote the welfare of OFWs.

Those who are in need of such help may visit the MWO office on the 29^th floor of United Centre in Admiralty so they can be guided with their application.

 

 

Board exam for OFW teachers set in HK and Thailand on Sept 21

 

The Professional Regulation Commission in the Philippines has set the board examination for teachers who are overseas on Sept 21 this year in both Hong Kong and Thailand.

The announcement was posted Wednesday by the Migrant Workers Office in Hong Kong.

Overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong with a degree in education have clamored for years for the Special Professional Licensure Examination (SPLE) to be held here again, after pro-democracy protests and the Covid-19 pandemic halted it.

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The last time the SPLE was held in Hong Kong was in October 2018.

In June this year, the board exam was conducted by the PRC in the Middle East, Singapore and Taiwan.  

Among those who took the June 2025 SPLE in Taiwan was HK OFW Ma. Adoracion R.Octavio, who placed second overall, with a grade of 89.20%.

Officers at the Philippine Consulate have always encouraged OFWs with a degree in education to take the SPLE here, especially if they wish to return home and teach.

If they pass, they can ask for support to be placed in a public school in the Philippines under the “Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am, Sir” (SPIMS), a reintegration project for OFWs which is now administered by the Department of Migrant Workers.

Ex-Consul General Tony Morales with other Consulate officers 
graced the start of the SPLE held in Hong Kong in October 2018

Those interested to take the September SPLE may apply until August 11, 2025 through the PRC Online Application System at https://online.prc.qov.ph

Examination fees shall be paid at the authorized payment channels as follows:

1. Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP)

2. Banc Net

3. G-Cash

4. Pay Maya

After payment of the corresponding examination fee, all applicants are required to submit via email at sple@prc.gov.ph the clear scanned copy of their application documents as follows:

1. Transcript of Record (with or without scanned picture and with or without remarks “For Board Examination Purpose Only”);

2. Valid passport; and

3. Two (2) passport-size pictures with a complete name tag in a white background

The list of conditionally approved applicants shall be posted on the PRC Website. Separately, the  PRC Delegation shall issue the Notice of Admission (NOA) to the qualified applicants upon presentation of the original documents on September 17-19, 2025, at a venue that will be announced later.

 

Treats galore on Handover Day

The 4 senior government officials enjoying their discounted dim sum

 People turned out in droves across Hong Kong today, July 1, to avail of the free tram and ferry rides, restaurant discounts and other treats that were on offer to celebrate the 28th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR).

Among those who took advantage of the celebratory offers were the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Cheuk Wing-hing; Deputy Financial Secretary, Michael Wong; Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Erick Tsang.

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After attending the flag-raising ceremony and reception to celebrate Hong Kong’s Handover to China, the four headed to a Chinese restaurant in Wan Chai to have tea, and avail of the 29 percent discount offered for a variety of dim sum.

After their morning tea, Cheuk, Wong and Tsang took the free tram ride to go to nearby Lee Tung Avenue, where the public were treated to free ice cream, popcorn and panda-shaped balloons.

The Start Ferry ride between Tsim Sha Tsui and Wanchai was also free for the day

Over 4,000 restaurants and merchants rolled out special promotions for the day, with a majority of the eateries offering 29% off the price of certain menu items.

Elsewhere, people enjoyed the free entrance to museums and indoor and outdoor facilities operated by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

One of the biggest hits was the free tram ride on all routes on Hong Kong island, which will be offered for the first time on three consecutive days, or from July 1 to 3.

There were also a lot of takers for the free ferry ride from Tsim Sha Tsui to Wan Chai.

The MTR offered no free rides on any of its trains, but raffled off 71,000 e-single journey tickets through a lucky draw.

 

 

 

HK OFW places 2nd in teachers’ board exam

 

Dreams do come true, says Dory, when she uploaded her graduation photo on Facebook

An overseas Filipino worker in Hong Kong has made history by placing second in the licensure examination for secondary  school teachers in the Philippines, an announcement issued Friday by the Professional Registration Commission has revealed.

Maria Adoracion Remo Octavio who studied at AMA Computer University in Quezon City scored a remarkable grade of 89.20 in the examination given in June this year, along with three other examinees. In first place was Jison A. Reyno of Binalbagan Catholic College, who scored 90.60.

In a Facebook post, Dory or Mariyah to to some friends, was understandably grateful about her performance, but true to form, did not flaunt it.

PAANO SUMALI? BASAHIN DITO

“Thank you Lord. Pasado na top 2 pa,” she said  (I did not only pass, I also made it to second place),” she said.

 “Thank you sa lahat ng bumati at nag chat at nag comment di ko na po kayo maiisa-isa,”(Thank you to everyone who congratulated me through chat or comment, I cannot name you individually)  she continued, before joking that it might take her a year to come up with appropriate remarks about what happened.

 

The PRC announcement that gave Dory profound joy

Dory’s feat was happily shared by Helen Marcos, who runs the AMA Computer Learning Center in Hong Kong.

Helen said Dory was just 23 years old when she decided to leave her hometown in Camarines Sur to work in Hong Kong in 2009. It was not an easy decision, as she was even then, academically inclined, having graduated as valedictorian in elementary grades.

Basahin ang detalye!

But the grinding monotony of working long hours as a domestic helper did not dim her desire to continue her studies, and when the opportunity came for her to study again while in Hong Kong, she did.

According to Helen, Dory studied at AMA Hong Kong for two years, then took the online course given by AMA in Quezon City, until she finally graduated with a degree in BS Education in 2024 - 15 long years after she tread the path of an OFW.

Luckily, she received permission to travel to Manila last year so she could receive her diploma in person, unlike a few of her classmates who  were not allowed to go home by their employers.

Confident that she could pass the board exam, Dory again asked her elderly ward to allow her to travel again, this time to Taiwan, so she could take the LET there, as it is no longer being given in Hong Kong since the pandemic.

Her “popo” initially said no, but Dory tearfully persisted with her request, as she wanted to take the examination while everything that she had learned was still fresh in her mind.

Her persistence paid off. Not only was she able to take the exam, she also passed it, and how!

(The SUN has reached out directly to Dory for her reaction and words of advice to her fellow OFWs on how they, too, could follow their dreams, and we are just awaiting her response - Ed)

 

 

6 Cambodia-bound Filipinos stopped at Davao airport

 

Excerpt from the written statement by one of the six trafficking victims

Recruiters for the notoriously brutal scam hubs in Cambodia have turned their sights on recruiting Filipinos in Davao City.

This emerged as the Bureau of Immigration disclosed yesterday, June 28, that six more Filipinas who were bound for Cambodia were intercepted at Davao International Airport last June 20, as they were about to board a Philippine Airlines flight to Singapore.

Investigations conducted by Immigration authorities revealed that the six who pretended that they were going to Singapore as tourists, were actually recruited for illegal overseas employment.

PAANO SUMALI? BASAHIN DITO

They divulged during questioning that they were recruited by a fellow Filipino through the social messaging app Telegram who offered them a high salary on the pretext that they would work as customer service representatives.

In truth, the Filipinas appeared to have been recruited to work under extremely harsh conditions in the scam hubs in Cambodia, where they would be forced to raise thousands of dollars for the syndicate by defrauding people online.

Basahin ang detalye!

One of the victims said the recruiter provided all of them with fraudulent documents and a return ticket so as to deflect suspicion at the immigration checkpoint. They were each promised a monthly salary of P50,000.

But before they could leave they were asked to pay Php50,000 each to the recruiter.

Illegal recruitment victims seeking help from the govt: Viado laments they ignore red flags

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the continuous recruitment of Filipinos for the scam hubs indicate that there is one trafficking syndicate behind the illegal activities.

He lamented that far too many Filipinos still fall for the spurious job offers, despite the “well-rehearsed lie” by the illegal recruiters.

He again called on Filipinos to be wary of overseas job offers that are too good to be true, particularly those that do not comply with legal recruitment processes.

A report issued on June 26 by the human rights group Amnesty International identified at least 53 scam centers across Cambodia, and accused the country’s government of “deliberately ignoring” the illegal acts of the criminal gangs.

Amnesty said that the cybercrime gangs continue to traffic people across the world, including children, and keeping them in slave-like condition while they amass money from unsuspecting scam targets.