Sapilitang SSS at insurance, dagdag pahirap sa OFW

Ni Vir B. Lumicao

Nahaharap ang mga OFW sa karagdagang bayarin sa darating na taon kapag pinirmahan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang bagong panukalang batas ukol sa pagpapatupad ng mandatory coverage ng Social Security System sa lahat ng mga OFW.

Ipinasa noong Okt 8 ng dalawang sangay ng Kongreso ang Senate Bill 1753 o Social Security Act of 2018, o SSA 2018, na nagtatakda ng sapilitang pagsali ng mga OFW sa SSS, ang tagapamahala ng pensiyon ng mga pribadong manggagawa.

Ang bagong batas ay itinulak sa Kongreso ni Emmanuel Dooc, pangulo at punong ehekutibo ng SSS.

Ang pangunahing target ng SSA 2018 ay ang bawat isa sa tinatayang 10 milyong Pilipinong nagtatrabaho sa labas ng bansa upang magsilbing mekanismo ng pag-iimpok nila para sa kinabukasan nila, ayon kay Dooc.

Sa kasalukuyang sistema, ang isang OFW na nagbabayad ng PhP1,760 bawat buwan nang di kukulangin sa 10 taon ay magkakaroon ng PhP6,400 na buwanang pensiyon; ika-13 buwang pensiyon; pampalibing na PhP20,000; salary loan na hanggang PhP32,000, at utang sa pabahay na aabot ng PhP2 milyon, sabi pa ni Dooc.

Gayunman, nagngingitngit ang mga OFW sa pagkakapasa sa Kamara ng nasabing panukalang-batas, dahil itinatadhana din nito na itaas ng 1 porsiyento ang dating 11% kontribusyon ng bawat miyembro, tuwing ikalawang taon. Ibig sabihin simula sa 2019 ay tataas ito sa 12%, hanggang umabot ng 15% sa 2025.

Ang masaklap, simula sa 2019, papasanin ng OFW pati ang ambag ng amo sa 12% kontribusyon, kaya magiging PhP2,400 ang babayaran niya ng sapilitan sa SSS buwan-buwan.

Nagbubunyi si Dooc tiyak na tatabo ng labis-labis na pondo ang gobyernong Duterte mula sa sapilitang pagsali ng mga OFW sa SSS, na siyang mangangasiwa sa pagpapalago ng perang ambag nila.

Tinatataya ng Migrante, ang pandaigdigang organisasyon ng mga manggagawang Pilipino sa labas ng bansa, na mula sa PhP4.64 bilyon na boluntaryong ambag ng mga OFWs noong 2016 ay lolobo nang 3,000% patungo sa PhP144 bilyon sa unang taon pa lang ng pagpapatupad ng batas na ito.

Limpak-limpak na pera ng OFW iyan na iglap na makakamal ng gobyerno. Wala sanang problema kung may sapat na garantiya ang gobyerno na ang perang sapilitang pipigain sa mga mangggagawa ay iingatan at palalaguin ng SSS.

May dahilang makaaamoy ng baho ang  marami sa bagong maniubrang ito ng pamahalaan dahil noong panunungkulan ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, nabunyag ang tangkang pagwaldas ng administrasyon sa perang nakalaan para sa pensiyon ng mga manggagawa.

Ang napipintong paniningil sa kanila ng sapilitang SSS contribution ay iba pa sa mandatory insurance na US$144 sa sisingilin naman ng Philippine Overseas Employment Administration sa mga OFW tuwing pipirma sila ng kontrata tuwing ikalawang taon.

Sa kabila ng mga dagdag-singil na ito, hindi nakikitaan ng madla ng aktibong kampanya ang gobyerno laban sa mga gahamang employment agency na patuloy na pumipiga sa mga manggagawang papunta sa ibang bansa.

Talamak ang paniningil ng mga ahensiya ng illegal na placement fee na itinatago nila sa iba’t ibang bayarin, tulad ng sapilitang pagti-training ng mga manggagawang malaon nang namamasukan at natututo ng mahahalagang kaalaman sa ibang bansa.

Garapalan na ang pagpiga ng gobyerno sa dugo ng mga OFW na dapat lang ilantad at tutulan ng mga manggagawa at ng kanilang mga pamilyang tuwirang naaapektuhan ng mga mapagsamantalang patakaran.   

Bicolanos hold tourism festival on Chater Rd

By Ellen Asis

Members of the Bicol Migrants Association held the first ever Bicol tourism festival in Hong on Sept 30 at Chater Road, Central.

Six provinces comprising Bicol region each had a booth that exhibited their native products, from food delicacies to handicraft to costumes, and displayed pictures of famous tourist attractions in each place.

According to BMA president Art Buban, the initiative is meant to promote the Bicol region as a tourist destination, not only for tourists, but also for Filipinos, including foreign domestic workers.

The group is confident their region has more than enough attractions to capture anyone visiting it for the first time, and for former visitors to want to go back for more.

The top draws include the perfectly-formed Mayon Volcano in Albay province, and the world-class surfing facilities in Camarines Sur.

The other provinces that make up the Bicol region are Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon.

One of the booths set up to showcase Bicol’s tourism and cultural resources.

Consul Paulo Saret who was the guest speaker at the event, praised BMA for taking the initiative to get more people to visit their region and discover its many beautiful attractions.

Consul Saret said that tourism helps the economy, and uplift the lives of many Filipinos so it’s important for everyone to promote our country and encourage more tourists to come and visit the Philippines.

One of the attractions at the day-long event was a booth occupied by guests from the famous Filipino radio program, “Isumbong mo kay Tulfo”, including the host, Ramon Tulfo. The veteran journalist posed for pictures with many OFWs who dropped by the booth, and promised help to those who needed it.

BMA was founded by Buban only last year, but has already 230 members.

Adventurers mark 2 years of happy hiking

By Vir B. Lumicao 

An all-OFW hiking group, The Adventurers, marked its second founding anniversary on Oct 1 with a barbecue party attended by more than 50 members and supporters at Butterfly Beach in
Tuen Mun, New Territories.

The group was founded two years ago by Analyn Soriba, a jolly 34-year-old domestic worker from Rosario, Batangas.

The energetic and joke-cracking Batangueña says her mission is to provide a healthy and worthwhile activity for Filipino helpers in Hong Kong to relieve themselves of the stress of working abnormally long hours in their employers’ homes.

Fun activities, including parlor games and photo-taking, highlighted the celebration.

The Adventurers organizes a hike on one of Hong Kong’s numerous trails every Sunday and statutory holiday, weather permitting.

More than 50 members and supporters at Butterfly Beach in Tuen Mun, New Territories.Its Facebook page already has 697 members, many of whom belong to other OFW groups, and like The Adventurers’ friendly trekking activity.

Most members are workers who prefer to explore Hong Kong’s natural beauty on their days off instead congregating at parks and city streets.

For the homesick worker, especially newcomers seeking new friends, a lunchbox, a bottle or two of water and enough Octopus load to get them to and from the hike site, are enough to spend a fun day with the group.

Once in a while, Soriba invites her followers and supporters to charity hikes to raise funds for worthwhile causes. Whatever the purpose of a hike, whether for charity or plain leisure, Soriba makes sure that they all enjoy the outing.

Just a few days after the Tuen Mun get-together, she led The Adventurers to another excursion, a walk to Tai Po Park on Oct 7 which she called “Wagwag Stress Day.”

Soriba promises members that The Adventurers would be a suitable home for the lonely OFW, describing it as: “Tahanan kung saan puro #HapiLangNaWalangEnding!”

OFWs learn first aid in 1-day Red Cross seminar

By Ellen Asis

Twelve Filipino domestic workers completed a one-day first aid course held at the Hong Kong Red Cross head office in Kowloon on Oct 7.

The course is aimed at giving pointers to domestic workers on how they should respond if someone in their employer’s household was injured or was involved in an accident, especially those they are taking care of.

The participants learned about the principles of first aid, bandaging, treating burns and scalds, choking, muscles cramps, home safety measures and precautions, giving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and how to handle a patient.

One of the participants, Louie Licop, said she felt lucky and happy that she was able to avail of the free training because she learned so much about giving first aid.  She particularly liked the lecture on bandaging and choking because she learned how to administer help properly.

She also said she was glad to have learned so many useful things, though admitted she had a hard time absorbing so much information in just one day.

All the participants will receive a certificate from the Red Cross for completing the intensive training.

Trainees work on dummies to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation .

Pista sa St Teresa idinaos

Ni George Manalansan

Nagdaos ng pistahan sa St Teresa Church sa Prince Edward Road noong ika-30 ng Setyembre and Filipino Catholic Community ng simbahan.

Matapos ang dasal at pasasalamat ay nag-awitan at nagkasayahan ang mga dumalo sa pamamagitan ng mga laro, katulad ng caterpillar game, paper relay, ice candy eating, shooting
coin in a class, bring me game, tongue twister contest at balloon relay.

Lalong pinagtibay ang samahan ng mahigit 10 grupo na kasama sa STFCC ng kasiyahan at sabay-sabay na panalangin.

Sa tampok na raffle draw, sinuwerte si Eden Anoyo dahil siya ang nagkamit ng grand prize na $700 na nasa red packet. First prize naman si Gemma Egam na nanalo ng $500, samantalang isang mini oven ang napunta sa nanalo ng second prize na si Gege Tamparong, at third prize naman si Lorna Padecio na nagkamit ng isang set ng baking tray.

Marami ang nanalo ng consolation prize na pera sa red packet.

Bago naghiwa-hiwalay ay nagsalo-salo ang lahat sa hapunan.

Ayon sa lider ng grupo na si Amalia Elefante, ang St Teresa ang pangalawa sa pinakamalaking Catholic community sa buong Hong Kong.

Sugod na, mga kapatid, sa hapag.

PRC grants LET proctors, watchers credit units for renewal of their license

Domestic worker-teachers who served as proctors and watchers in the Special Board Licensing Examination for Teachers held in Hong Kong on Sept 30 are entitled to as many as 10 credit units needed for renewing their professional licenses.

A new Professional Regulation Commission resolution gives 7 credit units to those who help out in the elementary-level exam and 10 for those in the secondary-level exam, said Gemma Lauraya, president of the National Organization of Professional Teachers-Hong Kong.

“We are happy because all the proctors and watchers in the BEED exam earned 7 units of CPD and those in the BSED exam earned 10 units, which we can add to the units earned so we can renew our licenses,” Lauraya told The SUN.  “This is the first time that the PRC gave us this opportunity.”

Labor Attache Nida Romulo and PRC officials oversee the LET.

PRC Chairman Teofilo Pilando Jr. along with two commissioners, signed Resolution 1118 on Sept 25, giving CPD credit units to those who help out in the professional licensure exams. One credit unit is given for each hour of service rendered.

Of the 60 who served as watchers and proctors in the licensure exam held at Delia Memorial School-Hip Wo in Kwun Tong, 58 were NOPT HK members,

Lauraya said. Those assigned to the elementary-level exam stayed until 2pm while those in the secondary-level finished at 6pm. 

On Sunday, Oct 7, Consul General Antonio Morales and Labor Attaché Nida Romulo handed certificates and licenses to 15 passers of the 2017 LET in ceremonies at the Consulate’s Sentro Rizal.

The documents were brought personally to Hong Kong by Dr Reynaldo Cristobal, head of the five-man PRC team that administered the exam.

Lauraya explained that the PRC requires professional teachers to renew their licenses every three years to be able to teach in Philippine schools. 

Those who renew their licenses until Dec 31 this year must earn 30 credit units while 45 credit units will be required from January next year.

 Thousands of Filipino teachers who have chosen to work as domestic helpers in Hong Kong and other places abroad can earn the required credits only by attending CPD seminars and training programs offered by accredited CPD providers.

But on Feb 15 this year, PRC Commissioner Yolanda Reyes directed the CPD secretariats to accept certificates of attendance in seminars and trainings offered even by unaccredited providers for crediting under the self-directed learning modality.    - VBL                                                        

Phil-Indo Consulates ask HK for lower loan interest

ConGen Morales at the CORP-Gear-Up Launch

By Daisy CL Mandap

The consulates of the Philippines and Indonesia are set to announce their joint effort to get the Hong Kong government to ease interest rates on loans, seen as one of the reasons why many migrant domestic workers get enmeshed in debt.

The joint campaign is expected to be unveiled at a press conference on Monday, Oct. 22.

Earlier, Philippine Consul General Antonio A. Morales spoke about the initiative in a speech at the launching of a new reintegration campaign for returning Filipino workers on Oct. 14 at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Wanchai.

“Last week, I and the consul general of Indonesia met with the Chief Secretary (Matthew Cheung) on the possibility of reducing interest rates and of course, the possibility of prosecuting those who get their (migrant workers) passports, Morales said.

He cited the most recent case of about 400 Philippine passports being seized from the house of a suspected loan shark in North Point. Last year, more than 800 passports, mostly belonging to Indonesians, were seized in a separate operation.

Morales sees the high interest rates on loans as one of the reasons why migrant workers end up saddled in debt.

“Alam ba ninyo na ang interest rate na legal maximum is 60%?,” he said in his speech at the launch of the Comprehensive OFW Reintegration Program (CORP). “So kung mangungutang kayo ng $1,000, $1,600 ang babayaran ninyo. Yan ang legal.”

In the case of the loan sharks, police have revealed that the interest rate charged to migrant workers who are asked to pawn their passports and employment contracts as security, is 125%.

It’s not known what, if any, steps will be taken by the Hong Kong government in response to the appeal by the two consulates. However, someone privy to the talks said the two consuls general were told during their meeting with the Chief Secretary to step up their education campaign to discourage heavy borrowing among their workers.

Morales said it is part of his advocacy to get more Filipino migrant workers to save and plan for their future so they can avoid the debt trap.

He revealed encounters with some migrants who have been working in Hong Kong for 20 or more years, including those who volunteer at the Consulate, who have not saved for their eventual return to the Philippines.

“It is really tragic,” he said.

But he added, it is unavoidable for some to resort to borrowing due to unforeseen events. “Hindi rin natin mapipigilan ang ating mga kababayan na mangutang.”

So apart from asking the Hong Kong government to lower the legal rate of interest for loans and crack down on illicit loans, Morales said the Consulate has been spearheading effort to provide financial education to Filipino migrant workers.

Helping OFWs prepare for their eventual return home, as the CORP program of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration plans to do, is another way to help them focus on their goal, and avoid unnecessary and burdensome borrowing.

CORP has partnered with Atikha's "Go,Earn, Accelerate, Return Uplift Philippines" (Gear-Up) program in providing comprehensive reintegration for OFWs in Hong Kong.  

Filipina fined $1,000 for stealing employer’s $350

By Vir B. Lumicao

A 37-year-old Filipina helper has lost her job, paid a $1,000 fine and faces immediate deportation – all because she stole $350 from her employer.

Joyce Atonen, who is in Hong Kong for just over three months, pleaded guilty in Kowloon City Court on Oct 16 to two charges of stealing a total of $350 in cash from her employer around mid-September.

Kowloon City Court

Atonen, who arrived in Hong Kong only in July, could not stop sobbing when she appeared before Magistrate Vivian Wong for committal to the court after police had completed their investigation.

The mother of five faced two charges of theft for allegedly stealing $200 and $150 on separate occasions from a drawer inside her employer’s bedroom in a unit at Bright View Court, Argyle St., Kowloon City.

The employer, a Chinese female surnamed Chan, reportedly put $1,000 in the drawer in mid-September. When she checked the money later, she noticed that $200 was missing.

Suspecting that the defendant took the money, Chan marked the remaining cash with a small tag. The employer checked the money again on Oct 2 and noticed that the tag had moved and another $150 was missing.

Chan dismissed Atonen on Oct 3 and reported the theft to the police on Oct 8. The defendant was arrested and investigated at the Hung Hom Police Station on Sunday, Oct 14, and was charged with theft the next day.

The prosecution said Atonen had admitted taking the money because she needed it for her expenses.

In mitigation, the duty lawyer assigned to the Filipina said the defendant is the sole breadwinner in the family and her three younger children are still going to school.

Magistrate Wong told the helper that theft was a breach of trust, a serious offense. But she noted that the amount stolen was small and a fine was appropriate.

Wong fined Atonen $1,000.

The Filipina said she had to take back her cell phone from the police so she could call a friend and seek help to raise money for the fine. But the magistrate said the helper must pay the fine before 5pm on Oct 16.

After Wong had left the courtroom, Danny Baldon, an officer of the assistance to nationals unit of the Consulate, consoled Atonen by assuring her the Consulate would pay the fine so she could be released that day.

OFWs can choose to pay lowest mandatory SSS contribution, says official

By Daisy CL Mandap

Yes, it is true that all overseas Filipino workers could be compelled to pay monthly contributions to the Social Security System starting next year. But no, they should not pay the maximum contribution of Php2,400 if they do not want to.

This was the statement made by Lester Paul S. Mata, the new SSS representative in Hong Kong, when asked for a reaction on Oct. 16 to criticisms about the newly passed legislation mandating all OFWs to pay for social security.

Mapa says OFWs can pay only Php960 monthly 

Under the Social Security Act of 2018 passed by both houses of Congress on Oct 4, the mandatory SSS membership to be paid by all OFWs, both land-based and sea-based, will go up by 12% next year (from the current 11%), and will gradually increase, reaching 15% by 2025.

According to statements issued by Migrante International and its Hong Kong affiliate, United Filipinos in Hong Kong, the new law could result in OFWs being forced to pay Php2,400 every month from next year. By 2020, this would go up to Php2,714 monthly, and so on.

Mata said this is not the case, because OFWs could still choose to pay the lowest monthly contribution of Php960 per month. However, this lowest contribution pegs the OFW member’s monthly salary at only Php8,000, so all benefits that will accrue to the member will be based on this figure.

Mata said SSS officials expect the bill to be signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte before the end of the year, so it could be enforced in early 2019. 

He said he has yet to get a copy of the proposed law himself, but confirmed that one of its key features is a requirement that all departing OFWs must pay at least three monthly contributions before they could leave for their job destinations.

That means that even if they choose to pay the lowest monthly contribution, they would still have to shell out at least Php2,880 in SSS payments before being able to fly out to their job destinations.

That will be on top of other fees they will have to pay, including for training and other recruitment related fees, and mandatory insurance, which is now pegged at USD$144 for land-based OFWs and USD$200 for seafarers for every two-year contracts.

The new law is packaged as providing additional benefits to members, including compensation for those who suddenly lose their jobs. This payment amounts to half the salary credit, up to two months only.

This means that an OFW who pays the minimum contribution will be entitled to only Php4,000 per month x two months, or a total benefit payment of Php8,000. Those who choose to pay the highest contribution of Php2,400 a month could only hope to get a maximum of Php20,000.

Migrante has hit out at the new mandatory fees, saying the Duterte government will be amassing hundreds of billions of pesos at the expense of OFWs already burdened by numerous state exactions.

“Forcing all OFWs to be covered as compulsory SSS members is outrageous since this exaction will be on top of the US$144 mandatory insurance recently enacted under the Duterte regime through POEA,” said Migrante International spokesperson Arman Hernando.

Unifil-Migrante chairperson Dolores Balladares also hit out at the forced collections, accusing the government of using OFWs as milking cows.

“Parang tokhang na tuloy ito, papatayin ang mga OFWs sa dami ng mga bayarin. Bakit ayaw tantanan ang mga OFWs?,” she asked in an earlier interview.

Migrante has vowed to exert all means to stop the bill from becoming law.

Pinay in hospital with injuries after Happy Valley carpark accident

By The SUN

A Filipina domestic worker was injured early this morning, Oct 16, when a vehicle pulling out of a carpark on Broadwood Road in Happy Valley reportedly bumped the car of her employer that she was cleaning.

The woman, surnamed Midriano, was sent to Queen Mary Hospital by officers who responded to a report of the accident at 9:18 am, a spokeswoman of the Police Public Relations Branch told The SUN.

The spokeswoman said the helper was conscious when taken to the hospital. She could not say if the driver of the car was arrested, only saying that an investigation was still being conducted.

The scene of the accident as shown on Facebook

Staff at the Philippine Consulate said late in the afternoon that they had not yet received any information about the accident.

Eyewitnesses said the wayward car was a Jaguar sport utility vehicle.

The wayward vehicle was reportedly being driven out of the carpark when it bumped into the car of Midriano’s employer, injuring the helper who was cleaning the vehicle at the time.

Photos of the accident were circulated on social media by a user identified as “Jeffrey” by other netizens.

The post said: “Kawawa naman si kabayan, nag ka car wash lang inabutan pa ng nag malfunction na Jaguar. Happened (on) Broadwood Road, Happy Valley. Minsan talaga di mo masabi buhay ng tao. Pls (ipag) pray natin si kabayan.”

  

One of the photos showed the victim lying on the carpark lot with an overturned pail beside her, and some dark liquid spilled on the floor beside her. A female security staff of the estate was standing guard while apparently awaiting the arrival of police and paramedics.

Other photos showed a red Jaguar SUV with a wrecked fender and hood, while an adjacent white car is shown also with a dented hood. Another photo showed paramedics surrounding the Filipina on the ground, apparently just before she was driven away to the hospital.