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Migrant group protests mandatory SSS, insurance for OFWs

Posted on 21 March 2019 No comments

By Daisy CL Mandap

Image may contain: 4 people, including Dolores Balladares Pelaez and Vicky Casia, people standing

Unifil-Migrante protesters say mandatory SSS will add to OFWs' burden

A group of Filipino migrant workers staged a protest outside the Philippine Consulate offices today, Mar 21, against a new law that requires all overseas Filipino workers to pay for SSS contributions. Republic Act 11199 or the SSS Act of 2018, is expected to take effect next month.

The protesters, led by United Filipinos in Hong Kong (Unifil-Migrante) said the forced SSS contribution, pegged at a maximum of Php2,400 (HK$356) per month, would impose an additional burden on OFWs struggling to make ends meet.

Unifil chair Dolores Balladares-Pelaez said that if the Social Security System is worried about depleting its fund because of an earlier law that granted an additional Php1,000 to members’ monthly pensions, it should just step up its collection instead of burdening migrant workers.

“Noong isang taon (2017) Php13 billion ang hindi nakolekta sa mga employer, bakit hindi sila ang habulin?”, asked Balladares-Pelaez.

She also said SSS should stop paying fat allowances to its officers to keep itself afloat.

Reports published previously showed that SSS executives had each been paid between Php1.6 million to Php5million a year in salaries and allowances.

“Bakit tayo ang magpapasan sa korapsyon sa SSS?” she asked.

But she stressed that her group has nothing against OFWs who choose to be SSS members, but not all of them should be compelled to pay for membership contributions.

Image may contain: 1 person, smiling

Mata

SSS representative in Hong Kong, John Lester Mata, said the fear that the monthly contribution would cause a heavy burden on OFWs, especially the new arrivals, may be unfounded.

Under the proposed implementing rules and regulations of SSS Act of 2018, he said an OFW departing from the Philippines for the first time will be charged only a month’s contribution, and it need not be the maximum Php2,400, but only the Php960 minimum.

But OFWs renewing their contracts will be charged three months’ worth of contributions.

Previously, the minimum contribution was Php550 and the maximum was Php1,760.

He said the forced contribution could be implemented sometime next month, after the SSS conducts an internal consultation meeting.

During this time, a memorandum of agreement among SSS, the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Foreign Affairs would be signed to ensure the enforcement of mandatory contribution of OFWs.

Asked what assurance he could give to OFWs about the benefits of paying their SSS contributions, Mata said, “As we have said before, wala namang benepisyo na hindi binabayaran ang SSS.”

Mata also reiterated that if revenues are not boosted soon, the SSS fund could be depleted by the year 2027. But with the new measures including mandatory OFW and higher contributions, the fund could be kept intact until 2045.

Meanwhile, the protesters also hit out at a resolution surreptitiously passed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Board on Aug 28 last year, mandating all OFWs to pay for life and medical insurance.

The implementing rules for the POEA resolution have yet to be issued, although Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre confirmed its existence at a public forum last November.

If implemented, each land-based OFW would have to shell out an extra US$144, or HK$1,200 for every two-year contract.

Balladares-Pelaez said mandatory insurance is not necessary, especially for Filipino workers in Hong Kong, because their employers are already obliged under the law to take out insurance on them to cover any untoward incident.

Here's a short clip on her statement:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djl8sVIdQD0

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Overstayed son, abetting mom get suspended jail sentences

Posted on 20 March 2019 No comments

Shatin Court

A Filipino youth and his Hong Kong resident mother have been sentenced in Shatin Court to 16 days in jail, suspended for a year, after admitting guilt for two immigration offenses.

The son, Kei Romar Herrero pleaded guilty to a charge of “breach of condition of stay” for overstaying his visitor visa for eight months.

His mother, Ma Jeminni H. Schneider, pleaded guilty to “aiding, abetting, counseling or procuring the breach of condition of stay”.

The two, who were out on bail, appeared before Magistrate Winnie Lau on Mar 20 for their scheduled plea-taking.

Herrero, a Philippine-born son of Schneider, arrived in Hong Kong on a visitor visa on Mar 30 last year and was allowed to stay until Apr 13. But the youth did not go home when his visa expired.

On Dec 27, Schneider accompanied Herrero to the Immigration Department to apply for a visa extension but officers there discovered that he had overstayed by eight months and arrested him.

On Jan 11, Schneider was also arrested for not reporting that her son had overstayed, the prosecution said.

Their defense lawyer appealed for a lenient sentence, saying that both mother and son had not seen each other for several years.

Magistrate Lau said that having lived in Hong Kong for many years, the mother should have been aware that the law does not condone overstayers.

She said she considered the pair’s guilty plea and handed them both a discounted sentence of 16 days in prison suspended for 12 months.

If during the next 12 months they commit any offense, their current sentence will be added to the sentence for their new offense, the magistrate said.

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Filipina officer at NGO on this year’s list of likely youth gov’t advisers

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Gellin Byatt receives her certificate from Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina program officer at PathFinders Hong Kong has been included in the “Diversity List 2019: Youth to Watch,” a pool of ethnic minority young men and women from which the government selects appointees to its advisory committees.

Gellin Byatt, who was born to a British father and a Filipina mother, was one of 24 selected by the Zubin Foundation and leadership consultancy Spencer Stuart Hong Kong from a field of 73 candidates.

Zubin Foundation, the social policy think tank and charity named after Zubin Mahtani Gidumal, describes the list as “a reserve of smart and talented individuals under the age of 35 born and raised in Hong Kong who are willing to serve on government advisory bodies”.

As of 2018, the government has named 16 of them to advisory committees.

Byatt is the only Filipino on the list this year. Since its launch in 2016, the list has had only five Filipino members, including Byatt.

The previous nominees were Luisa T. Castro and Danilo A. Reyes, both with expertise in education and training, in 2018; Jonnet B. Kudera, charity and non-government services, 2017; and Dr. Theresa Cunanan, education and training, in 2016.

Zubin Foundation said despite making up 3% of Hong Kong’s population (excluding domestic helpers) and their significant cultural and economic contributions, ethnic minorities were significantly underrepresented in government advisory bodies.

“In fact, among the nearly 1,500 members serving on 100 publicly available advisory bodies, only 1.9% were held by ethnic minorities and 79% of them were “white”, the foundation said.

“This meant that voices from an important and growing constituency were not adequately reflected – or even heard – in government policymaking.”

In 2016, the foundation partnered with Spencer Stuart, a recruitment firm, to launch the List.

According to the 2016 population by-census report, 776,709 youth made up 11.1% of the Hong Kong population. Of these, 71,574 were ethnic minorities aged 15 to 34 years. By 2064, 36% of the population or 2.58 million will be 65 years or older.

“How we tackle these issues must include ideas and voices of Hong Kong’s youth, who will be taking Hong Kong into the future,” the foundation said.

In her 2017 policy address, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said the government was setting up five youth committees and doubling the youth representation on advisory bodies.

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Maid denies charge of stealing goods from fashion shop

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Eastern Court

A 39-year-old Filipina domestic helper has denied in Eastern Court a charge that she stole assorted goods from a fashion shop on Mar 17.

Lulu Pasia appeared before Magistrate Peter Law on Mar 19 and was charged with one count of theft.

The prosecution accused Pasia of taking from a Uniqlo shop on Mar 17 eight pairs of boxers shorts, eight pairs of socks, three umbrellas, one backpack and one handbag without paying for them.

She was intercepted by a store staff outside the shop. The goods were found in her bag but she could not produce a sales receipt for them.

The value of the items was not mentioned. The incident was reported and police arrested Pasia.

At her arraignment on Tuesday, Pasia pleaded not guilty

The prosecution sought an adjournment until Apr 15 for further investigation and legal advice.

The defendant offered bail money of $1,000 for her temporary release. Her counsel said the employer would be terminating her job contract on Apr 5 as a result of the case.

The lawyer said the defendant’s sister, who works for a hotel, had offered an address where she would stay if granted bail.

After ascertaining the address where Pasia would stay, the magistrate granted her bail application and told her to return to the court on Apr 15.

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I-TRY MO ITO, KATRIBO!
Mas madali nang tawagan ang mga advertiser natin dito. Pindutin lang ang kanilang ad at lalabas ang automatic dialer. Isa pang pindot ay matatawagan mo ang advertiser na hindi na kailangang i-dial ang numero nila. I-try mo!

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Pinay to be tried for selling fake Adidas jackets

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A Filipina maid has set the stage for her April 12 trial in Eastern Court by denying charges of selling and possessing jackets with a pirated brand, and breaching immigration rules.

Defendant Mer Angeli Solano, who is out on police bail, appeared before Magistrate Peter Law on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The prosecution alleged that on Feb 11 last year, a Customs undercover officer bought a fake Adidas jacket from Solano on a pavement below the HSBC headquarters building in Central. After the transaction, Customs officers called by the undercover agent confiscated from her a bag containing 15 fake Adidas jackets.

At Tuesday’s hearing, the prosecution added the charge of “breach of condition of stay” against Solano, for selling the merchandise in violation of her visa to work as a domestic helper in Hong Kong.

The prosecution said it has five witnesses but only two will give evidence in the one-day trial – the arresting officer and the guarding officer.

Magistrate Law set the trial for Apr 12 and told the defendant to prepare her reply to the charges and submit these to the court three days before the trial.

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I-TRY MO ITO, KATRIBO!
Mas madali nang tawagan ang mga advertiser natin dito. Pindutin lang ang kanilang ad at lalabas ang automatic dialer. Isa pang pindot ay matatawagan mo ang advertiser na hindi na kailangang i-dial ang numero nila. I-try mo!

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