Urong-sulong, wala rin sa huli

Isang linggong may camping ang alaga ni Elsa, at sinamantala niya ang pagkakataon para magpaalam sa amo na lalabas siya ng maaga sa araw ng Lunes. Pumayag naman ang amo, ngunit nakiusap na kung maari ay ibaba muna niya ang alagang aso ng alas sais ng umaga bago siya umalis, o kaya ay ibilin niya sa mga kapwa katulong niya na kapitbahay rin nila.

Kinausap ni Elsa si Rosie na katulong ng kapitbahay na katrabaho ng kanyang amo, at pumayag naman ito. Agad na pinaalam ni Elsa sa kanyang amo ang usapan nila ni Rosie.

Linggo ng gabi ay pinuntahan muli ni Elsa si Rosie para ipaalala ang kanilang usapan. Kinaumagahan ay naghanda nang umalis si Elsa, ngunit pagbukas niya ng kanilang pintuan ay nakita niya ang nakaipit na isang munting papel na nakatiklop.

Sulat pala ito mula kay Rosie na humihingi ng paumanhin dahil wala daw pala syang oras na magpaihi ng alagang aso ng kapitbahay dahil marami siyang trabaho.

Inis na naghintay ng alas nuwebe si Elsa para mailabas ang aso, kaya alas diyes na rin siya nakaalis ng bahay. Sana daw ay hindi na lang siya pinaasa ni Rosie dahil pwede naman sanang ang kanyang amo na lang ang nagdala sa labas ng aso kung walang ibang mapagbilinan.

Si Elsa ay tubong Ilocos, 30 taong gulang, may isang anak, at naninilbihan sa pamilyang Briton sa Central. — Grace Gonzaga

Caroling for a cause

The Philippine Alliance Hong Kong has decided to make use of its members’ singing talents by going caroling to raise money for its various projects.

The group’s president, Aldrin Mas and chairman, Walter Melicor, led the singing at the launch of their novel fund-raising effort on Nov. 27. The first to be regaled with their singing prowess was Metrobank’s remittance branch at United Centre and the Philippine Consulate General in the same building. Mas said they will be going around business establishments in World Wide Plaza next.

Click photo below to watch the group singing: "Himig ng Pasko".

POLO to close at 8pm on Sundays for OEC exemption issuance

The OEC exemption slip which thousands
of  OFWs are now lining up for

From this Sunday, Dec 4, the Philippine Overseas Labor OFWs Office will extend its office hours to 8 pm at both its 11^th and 16^th floor offices for the issuance of the overseas employment certificate (OEC) exemption. The extended opening hours will apply for all Sundays of December and January 2017.

This is according to Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre, who said his office noticed the start of the usual Christmas crush of OFWs applying for exemption yesterday.

“While many already applied online, a lot more wanted the small piece of paper, the temporary OEC exemption, for one reason or another,” he said in his FB post announcing POLO’s extended service.

The temporary OEX exemption slip is what a vacationing OFW needs to get past immigration at Philippine airports and return to his or her employer. However, those who are flying out through Clark international airport are being asked to register online, anyway, because the slip is not being honored there for some reason.

The slip must be kept by the OFWs on their return to Hong Kong as it comes with a reference number which serves as their one-time pass in creating an account with Balik Manggagawa Online (BMO) system. Once they manage to create their BMO account, they will be able to print their own exemption slip each time they need to go back to the Philippines, for as long as they return to the same employer, and work site.

Those who change employers, whether they finished or broke their contracts, are not entitled to the OEC exemption. They will have to secure an appointment with POLO or any POEA branch in Manila so they could be helped in either creating a new BMO account, or change the existing data in their account. - DCLM

Nahuli ni Elsa ang kiliti ng among sumpungin

Sa mahigit isang taon na pagtatrabaho ni Elsa sa kanyang among intsik sa Kowloon City, kabisado na niya ang ugali ng kanyang among babae na medyo mahirap pakisamahan. Wala siyang naging problema sa among lalaki at maging sa anak na binatilyo.

Tuwing umaga ay nakikiramdam si Elsa kung ano ang magiging “mood” ng kanyang among babae. Minsan ay ang kanyang alaga na mismo ang nagbibigay babala kay Elsa kapag mainit ang ulo ng ina nito.

Kapag ganito na ang eksena sa bahay nila, agad na bubulong ang alaga niya nang, “Elsa, I smell trouble, be careful!” Dahil dito ay ingat na ingat na siya sa kanyang mga kilos dahil tiyak na siya na naman ang pagbubuntunan. Pero kahit anong ingat ang gawin niya, kapag ang asawa nito ang nagkamali o di kaya ay ang anak, si Elsa pa rin ang nakikita palagi.

Isang araw, habang naglilinis siya ng kusina ay bigla na lang sumigaw ang kanyang among babae at sinabing hindi naman daw dapat linisin araw araw ang kusina dahil marami pang ibang dapat gawin. Para hindi sila magtalo ay  itinigil ni Elsa ang paglilinis ng kusina at pumasok sa kanyang kuwarto para kunin ang isang papel na may listahan ng dapat niyang gawin sa araw araw.

Mula nang mag umpisa siyang magtrabaho sa pamilyang ito ay ang listahan na ito na ang sinusunod niya. Ang tawag nga nila ng kanyang alaga sa listahan ay “bible” dahil mismong ang binatilyo ay tutol sa pinaggagawa ng ina. Hawak ang “bible”, lumapit si Elsa sa nagpupuputak na amo at iniabot ang papel na pina-laminate pa niya para huwag masira. “Madam, here’s the bible, please read. If you want to change, please write a new one.”

Hindi alam ni Elsa kung imahinasyon lang niya ang nakita ngunit, sa tingin niya ay nagpigil ang amo na huwag matawa! Kinuha naman ng amo ang listahan at binasa, sabay tanong ng “you really follow this everyday?” Sagot naman ni Elsa, “yes Madam, because you said do what you tell me, so you will not be upset.”

Tumalikod ang amo at pumasok sa kanyang kuwarto.  Inaasahan ni Elsa na magagalit ito at baka iyon na ang huli niyang araw sa trabaho. Matapos ang isang oras ay lumabas ang amo, bitbit ang isang papel, kinabahan si Elsa dahil ang akala niya ay termination letter na ang iaabot sa kanya. Nang basahin niya ang papel, ang nakasulat ay, “Only one rule in the bible: Be happy, do your job well.”

Kahit hindi ngumiti ang among masungit, alam ni Elsa na nakuha na nito ang kiliti ng amo. Natuwa din ang kanyang alaga at sinabing pagpasensiyahan na niya ang ina nito. –Jo Campos

Ang nerbiyosang si Mila

Alas siyete ng gabi nang matapos ang playdate ng alaga ni Mila sa bahay ng kanyang kaklase.

Inihatid ang bata ng kanyang magulang na Briton, at si Mila ang susundo. Kabilin-bilinan ng amo na hangga’t maari ay huwag silang sumakay ng taxi dahil meron namang bus. Pilit sinunod ni Mila ang utos, pero halos isang oras na silang naghihintay ng alaga ay hindi pa rin sila makasakay ng bus. Lahat kasi ng dumadaan ay punong-puno kaya hindi na tumitigil sa kanilang kinatatayuan.

Maya-maya ay nilapitan sila ng isa sa dalawang lalaki na naghihintay din ng bus, at niyaya silang magsabay na lang sila sa taxi at maghati sa bayad. Takot na lumayo si Mila na ang iniisip ay baka dukutin sila ng kanyang alaga. Hindi niya mapigilan ang hindi manginig at manlamig ang mga kamay, hanggang may dumating na taxi.

Pinauna naman sila ng mga lalaki na sumakay, ngunit kinausap ng Intsik ang drayber pagkatapos. Sumakay ang isa sa mga lalaki sa harapan, at ang isa ay tumabi kay Mila. Halos himatayin si Mila sa nerbiyos at kinailaingang kurot-kurutin ang mga kamay para masigurong hindi siya hihimatayin.

Habang nasa daan ay tinanong siya ng katabing lalaki kung ano ang kanyang iniisip, dahil nahalata daw nito ang kanyang pananahimik at malaking takot. Sinabi naman ni Mila na pinagbilinan kasi sila ng kanyang amo na huwag sumakay ng taxi, kaya lang ay lumalalim na ang gabi kaya nagdesisyon siyang suwayin na ang utos.

Naibsan ang pag-aalala ni Mila nang bumaba ang mga lalaki bago sila inhatid ng taxi sa kanilang tirahan sa Wanchai. Si Mila ay 30 taong gulang, may tatlong anak, at apat na taon na sa Hong Kong. —- Grace Gonzaga

Jen’s agency faces closure after being fined again for overcharging

By Vir B. Lumicao

Jen's office in Tsuen Wan

An employment agency convicted of overcharging in September, was again found guilty by the Tsuen Wan Court on Nov 24 of charging two domestic helpers excessive fees.

Jen’s Employment Agency Ltd, located in Tsuen Wan, was also fined $26,000 and the Labour Department said it was now in the process of revoking the agency’s license.              

The two helpers, whose nationalities were not disclosed by Labour, filed complaints of overcharging in May against Jen’s with the Employment Agencies Administration, the department’s unit that regulates agencies.

They said Jen’s charged them excessive placement fees with employers in Hong Kong. Investigators found sufficient evidence against the agency and filed the charges.

“We are glad that the (helpers) concerned were willing to come forward to report their cases to EAA and act as prosecution witnesses,” a Labour spokesman said.

He said the department would not tolerate any employment agencies that overcharge jobseekers and would act promptly on any complaints received. 

“Jobseekers who suspected themselves of being overcharged by (agencies) should report their cases to EAA as soon as possible and act as prosecution witness,” he said.

Agencies are allowed to collect from jobseekers no more than 10% of the helper’s first monthly salary as commission.

This is the ninth conviction of a local agency for overcharging, and the second for Jen’s.

On Sept 1, Jen’s was convicted and fined $24,000 by the same court for charging a Filipina job applicant nearly 30 times the allowable commission of $411 at the time.

The other agencies that were convicted earlier this year are Marks Domestic Helper Agency Ltd located in Tsuen Wan, Ka Ying Employment Agency in Cheung Sha Wan, Enoch Employment Agency in Wan Chai, Gold Union Employment Agency in Fanling, Ursula Advanced Employment Center in Causeway Bay, Tamas Employment Agency in Tai Wai, and a man who operated an agency without a license in Fanling.
The Labour Department reminded agencies to comply fully with the law as their failure to do so could lead to prosecution and possible revocation of licenses.
For enquiries or complaints about unlicensed operations or overcharging by agencies, call EAA at 2115 3667 or visit its office on Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon.

Naisahan ng tusong kababayan

Naantig ang puso ni Ela sa isang pasaherong umiiyak sa tabi matapos humarap sa check-in counter, kaya tinanong niya ang kapwa-Pinay kung ayos lang siya. Bumalot ang lungkot na mukha ng Pinay at sinabing wala palang nabili ang amo na extra kilo para sa kanyang luggage.

Pinapabayad siya ng $450 para sa kanyang bagahe, ngunit wala na raw siyang dalang pera dahil pinadala na niya ito sa kanyang account sa Pilipinas. Naawa si Ela at nagtiwala kaagad kaya pinahiram niya ng pera ang pobreng pasahero.

Nakialam ang katabi nilang Pinay na nakamasid sa kanilang pag-uusap at nagmungkahing kunan niya ng larawan ang Hong Kong ID nito. Nagpaunlak naman ang huli. Maaliwalas na ang mukha nito at masaya nang nakipagkwentuhan tungkol sa kanilang mga pamilyang naiwan sa Pilipinas at sa mga sasalubong sa kanila.

Nangako siya na iaabot din ang pera kahit sa katumbas na halaga sa peso pagdating ng asawa dahil nagpahiram na daw siya ng pambayad.

Ngunit biglang naglaho ang pinautangan paglabas nila sa Immigration. Nakalabas na lahat ang mga kasabayan nila sa eroplano pero hindi na iyon nahagilap ni Ela.

Kasama na niya ang kanyang asawa sa paghahanap ngunit hindi na nila talaga nakita ang babae.

Naabutan niya sa labas ang kasabay na nagmungkahing kuhanan ng larawan ang ID niya, at humingi ng tulong na hanapin ang babaeng iyon sa Facebook. Nagpalitan sila ng Hong Kong telephone number para makapagkumustahan sila pagbalik nila sa Hong Kong.

Si Ela ay tubong-Iloilo, may asawa at anak, at apat na taon nang naninilbihan sa Mongkok. — Marites Palma

Bawal ang heater

Dalawang taong nagtiis si Marie na maligo ng malamig na tubig kahit taglamig dahil mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ng kanyang napakakuripot na amo ang paggamit ng heater dahil makunsumo raw iyon sa koryente.

Kaya tuwing naliligo si Marie ay napapahiyaw siya sa ginaw at napapaiyak tuwing nanginginig na ang kanyang katawan pagkatapos niyang maligo. Ngunit tiniis niya iyon sa loob ng dalawang taon sa tindi ang kanyang pangangailangan ng pera, dahil ayaw niyang mahinto sa pag-aaral ang mga anak.

Nawawala lamang ang nararamdaman niyang ginaw tuwing napapasakamay niya ang kanyang buwanang sahod.

Noong malapit nang matapos ang kanyang kontrata ay kinausap siya ng kanyang among Intsik na pipirmahan siya muli ngunit buong tapang na siyang tumanggi at sinabing hindi na niya kayang maligo na walang heater tuwing taglamig. Nagkibit-balikat lamang ang kanyang amo at sinabing kukuha na lang daw sila ng bago na galing sa Pilipinas.

Hindi naman nahirapang humanap ng bagong amo si Marie. Naging masuwerte siya sa pangalawang amo dahil pwede na siyang gumamit ng heater sa paliligo at maging sa paglilinis at paghuhugas. Si Marie ay tubong-Cagayan Valley at kasalukuyang naninilniban sa New Territories. Siya ay may asawa at anak.— Marites Palma

List of CSC examinees on POLO HK website

The list of the 954 approved examinees for the first Civil Service Examination in Hong Kong is now available for viewing on the website of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office.

Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre uploaded the list of names yesterday, Thursday,  along with their room assignments, so that all prospective examinees can check whether their names are on the roster.

Labatt De la Torre has advised all those who applied to check the list as soon as possible. If they have completed the application process and their names are not on the list, they should go to the sole venue for the examination, the Delia School Hip Wo in Kwuntong, at 11am, or two hours before the 1pm start so their concern could be assessed. 

The list is divided into two parts, Professionals and Sub-Professionals.

Please click the link to see the complete list. 

http://polohk.org/initiative/                 

Peso hits 8-year low of 50:US$1

AFP file photo

The Philippine peso has sunk to Php50 to the US$1 in mid-trading today, Thursday, Nov. 24. It was the lowest level for the peso since closing at 49.99 to US$1 on Nov. 20, 2008.

Reports attributed the decline to an expected rate hike by the US Federal Reserve next month.

However, analysts have already forecast that the peso would close at 50:1US$ before the year’s end. It has been declining steadily in value since the second half of this year, when foreign investors started pulling out of the country after the election of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

But the decline slowed down recently, as cash remittances from overseas Filipinos started pouring into the country, and a stronger-than-expected gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 7.1 percent was recorded for the third quarter.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Armando M. Tetangco, Jr. has attributed the weakness of the peso and other emerging market currencies to the sustained strength of the US dollar.

 “Basically, the weakness in emerging market currencies is due to dollar strength. And why is that so? Because of expectations that interest rates are going to rise in the US. And because as the [incoming Trump] administration pushes for increased spending and more rapid economic growth, that may result in higher inflation and therefore higher interest rates. Because of that, we are seeing the flow of capital out of emerging markets and back to the United States,” Tetangco told reporters. - from reports in Manila

Manyakis si Tatang

Pasimple kung mambastos ang Pinoy na si Tatang. Ito ang napatunayan ni Carmen isang umaga nang madatnan niya itong kinukulit ang isa sa mga kostumer ng tindahan na binabantayan sa palengke.

Base sa takbo ng nadatnan niyang usapan ng dalawa ay matagal nang hindi napadaan ang babae kaya parang nanggigigil si Tatang habang hinahawakan ang mga braso ng babae. Nagtangka pa ang matanda na yumakap pero agad na umiwas ang babae.

Naiwan si Carmen at ang isa pang kostumer na lalaki sa tindahan at kahit wala naman nagtatanong ay ipinaliwanag ni Tatang na kababayan at kabiruan daw niya ang babae. “Kaya lang malapit nang walang asim,” dagdag pa ni Tatang kahit wala pa ring pumapansin sa kanya.

Asiwang-asiwa si Carmen kaya agad niyang binayaran ang binili sabay alis.

Pero dahil may nakalimutan siyang bilhin sa tindahang iyon ay bumalik si Carmen pagkatapos mabili ang lahat ng pakay sa loob ng palengke. Nang iabot niya ang bayad ay ganoon na lang ang gulat niya nang pahaplos munang hinawakan ni Tatang ang kanyang braso bago kinuha ang pera.

Gustong magalit ni Carmen pero ayaw niyang gumawa ng eksena kaya umalis na lang siya. Pinangako na lang niya sa sarili na hindi na muling bibili pa sa naturang tindahan. ——Gina N. Ordona

Mission aims to promote ‘happy homes’ in HK

(This issue, we are publishing an article on “Happy Homes,” a new project of the Mission for Migrant Workers which was launched on Sunday, Nov. 13. The project is meant to develop and promote harmony in Hong Kong households through storytelling, distribution of leaflets promoting Christian values of “love, care and understanding”, and providing a direct line to employers who may need advice on matters relating to the hiring of a foreign domestic worker.)

Veteran NGO, the Mission For Migrant Workers (MFMW), has launched a new project aimed at developing and promoting harmony in Hong Kong households employing foreign domestic workers (FDWs).

Dubbed as “Project: HAPPY HOMES”, the ground-breaking initiative is based on the MFMW’s belief that a harmonious relationship inside households is an ideal that must be pursued.

Participating households will be given a “Happy Home” badge to indicate that their household is a space where “love, care and understanding” thrive.

According to Cynthia Tellez, MFMW general manager, the project is mutually beneficial to FDWs and employers.

“For FDWs, it will mean reducing their insecurity and vulnerability for a more favorable living and working condition. Meanwhile for employers, it will lead to peace of mind and confidence that their homes, children and elderly are taken care of sufficiently,” she remarked.

Project: HAPPY HOMES is composed of three parts: Harmony in Households, Christian Household project, and the Employer Awareness Program.

Harmony in Households is an initiative that will gather and promote positive short stories and vignettes of events from the employers and FDWs detailing events that showed harmony in the household, in the lives of the employers or workers or in general society.

These stories, said Tellez, can serve as inspiration for many other households as they will feature practices that can be encouraged and emulated.

Employers, domestic workers and people in Hong Kong are encouraged to like, read and contribute to the dedicated Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HappyHomesHK
The Christian Household Project, meanwhile, is part the MFMW’s ministry that aims to expand on Christian values of love, care and fellowship. In line with this effort, the MFMW will produce information materials that will be distributed among churchgoers all over Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, Tellez said, the Employer Awareness Program will make more systematic the help that MFMW gives to employers who approach their office.

“We have had cases where employers were fed with wrong or incomplete information by recruiters or other agents. This has led to misunderstandings and has even exposed employers to liabilities,” Tellez related.

The MFMW is now announcing a dedicated telephone number (2522-8261) for inquiries coming from employers needing timely and accurate information regarding employing foreign domestic workers.

The launch of HAPPY HOMES coincided with the international observance of World Kindness Day on Nov. 13 which highlights good deeds and focuses on the positive power of kindness in our communities to bridge the divides of race, economic status, religion, or gender.

Through these project features, Tellez, concluded, the MFMW is hoping to disseminate messages of harmony, multiculturalism and mutual understanding that will “create happy homes to contribute to a Hong Kong society that is truly caring and inclusive of all.”

For reference:
Cynthia Tellez
General Manager
MFMW Ltd.  (Mission For Migrant Workers)
St. John’s Cathedral, 4-8 Garden Road,
Central, Hong Kong
Tel. No.: 97409406


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This is the monthly column from the Mission for Migrant Workers, an institution that has been serving the needs of migrant workers in Hong Kong for over 31 years. The Mission, headed by its general manager, Cynthia Tellez, assists migrant workers who are in distress, and  focuses its efforts on crisis intervention and prevention through migrant empowerment. Mission has its offices at St John’s Cathedral on Garden Road, Central, and may be reached through tel. no. 2522 8264.

Bail or no bail?: Hindi pantay na hustisya sa HK

Ni Vir B.Lumicao

Kataka-taka kung minsan ang mga aksiyon ng husgado ng Hong Kong na nasaksihan namin sa mga nakaraang kasong binantayan namin sa mga korte ng lungsod na ito.

Isa sa mga pumukaw sa aming isipan ay ang usapin ng piyansa.

Nag-iiwan ng malaking katanungan ang pagpayag mga tagapagsakdal na magpiyansa ang isang napagbintangan ng panggagahasa, at ang pagtanggi nilang bigyan ng ganitong karapatan ang isang katulong na diumano’y lumabag sa batas ng imigrasyon.

Kamakailan ay dalawang kaso ng “breach of condition of stay” na kinasasangkutan ng mga kasambahay na Pinay ang kinakitaan naming ng ganitong di-pantay na trato.

Ang dalawang nasangkot na katulong ay kapuwa nahuli diumano ng mga tauhan ng imigrasyon na nagtatrabaho sa tindahan ng kanilang mga amo.

Pagkaaresto pa lamang sa bawat isa sa kanila ay ipiniit na sila ng mga humuli at hindi pinayagang magpiyansa ng mga mahistrado batay sa rekomendasyon ng tagapagsakdal.

Kadalasan ang hindi pinapayagang makapag-piyansa ay ang mga nasasakdal sa mabigat na kaso, katulad ng pagpaslang o murder, at pagdadala ng malaking halaga ng bawal na gamot, o drug trafficking. Kabilang din dito ang mga taong ipinapalagay ng mga awtoridad na posibleng tumakas o uulit ng krimeng ibinibintang sa kanila.

Iyon marahil ang dahilan kung bakit tinanggihan ng korte na makapagpiyansa ang isang Aprikanong napagbin-tangang nagtangkang humalay sa tiyahin ng kanyang asawa sa Tuen Mun noong nakalipas na taon.

Gayunman, nitong mga nakalipas na buwan ay pinayagan ng pulisya at korte na magpiyansa ang dalawang local na among napagbintangang nanggahasa sa kanilang mga katulong na Pilipina.

Iisipin ng mga tao, lalo na ng mga dayuhang tulad natin, na hindi pantay-pantay ang pagpapatupad ng batas at hustisya sa Hong Kong. Kung ang mga dayuhang katulong na naakusahan ng paglabag sa mga alituntunin ng imigrasyon ay hindi pinapayagang magpiyansa samantalang ang mga among lalaki na napagbibintangang nanggahasa sa mga kapwa nila kasambahay ay pinapayagang magpiyansa.

Tulad ng marami pang mga batayang karapatan, ang karapatang makapagpiyansa ay hindi “absolute” o di nababago, ayon sa batas ng Hong Kong. Maaaring tumanggi ang pulisya at mga korte na payagang magpiyansa ang isang nasasakdal depende sa sitwasyon.

Halimbawa, kung may malaking posibilidad na guguluhin o pagbabantaan ng akusado ang mga testigo sa kaso ay tatanggi ang korte na payagan ang nasasakdal na magpiyansa.

Kapag hindi pumayag ang korte, maaari pa ring dumulog sa High Court ang isang nasasakdal at doon hihingi ng pahintulot. Ngunit puwedeng ding lumapit doon ang pulisya upang hadlangan iyon.

Sa dalawang kaso ng mga katulong na napagbintangan ng ilegal na pagtatrabaho, ang isa ay nahuli diumanong nagtatrabaho sa isang hotel na pag-aari ng amo sa Tsimshatsui, samantalang ang pangalawa ay nahuli namanag nagbebenta diumano ng pagkain sa isang taga-imigrasyon na nagpanggap na mamimili.

Ang dalawang katulong ay hindi pinagpiyansa at ikinulong nang ilang araw. Sa kaso ng isa, napansin ng isang huwes sa High Court ang di-pantay na trato sa katulong at sa amo, kung saan ang amo ay pinayagan magpiyansa samantalang ang kasambahay ay nakapiit. Pinayagan niyang makalaya ito ng pansmantala.

Sa kabutihang-palad, ang dalawang katulong ay nagkamit ng hustisya nang sila ay magkahiwalay na pinawalang-sala ng hukuman, parang pampalubag-loob pagkatapos ng masamang dinanas nila.

Pinay overstayer jailed, another gets suspended sentence

Two Filipino domestic workers who overstayed their Hong Kong visas had a mixed fortune when they pleaded guilty to violating immigration laws at Shatin court on Nov. 23.

The first, Riselle Doble, was sent to jail for 10 weeks, as she had overstayed for three years and eight months.

The other, Julieta Javillonar, got a two-week prison term suspended for three years, as she stayed illegally in the territory for just two months.

Doble came to Hong Kong to work as a domestic helper on Feb. 13, 2013, but was terminated after only a month. She decided to stay despite failing to get a new employer.

She surrendered to Immigration on Nov 7 this year.

 “The case involves overstaying for more than 40 months. It’s a serious offense that calls for immediate custodial sentence,” Magistrate Andrew Ma said.

Doble was given a discount on her sentence for surrendering and for being a first-time offender.

Javillonar, on the other hand, came to Hong Kong to work as a domestic helper on Sept 14 last year but was also dismissed after a month. She likewise did not leave after failing to find a new employer within the two-week period she was allowed.

Javillonar surrendered to Immigration on Nov 11, 2015, two months after she should have returned home. She applied for a torture claim, but her application was rejected last month by the Torture Claims Board. – Vir B. Lumicao

DH protection from illegal fees and abuse urged

Joshua Mata of SENTRO, left, says China has to ratify the ILO Convention on Domestic Workers so that Hong Kong improve its treatment of migrant helpers. With Mata are PLU chair Sheila Estrada, LegCo Member Fernando Cheung, ILO officer Claire Hobden and Elizabeth Tang of HK Federation of Domestic Workers.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Labor leaders are urging the Philippine and Hong Kong governments to do more to protect foreign domestic workers from excessive agency fees and other forms of  exploitation.

Hong Kong legislators, for their part, said they would push measures that would give more teeth to the law prohibiting agencies from charging domestic workers more than 10% of their first monthly salary, or $430, as commission.

The statements were made during the launch on Oct. 30 of “Between a Rock and a Hard Place,” a research on Filipina helpers who were victims of illegal fees and abusive employers.

A documentary film on the report was also shown at the event held at the Hong Kong Teachers’ Union in Yau Ma Tei, and attended by about 100 workers, supporters and media people.

The research, made jointly by the Progressive Labor Union of Domestic Workers in Hong Kong, or PLU, and Hong Kong Federation of Domestic Workers, or FADWU, involved in-depth interviews with 68 helpers who were victimized by agencies in the Philippines and in the territory.

“Our research clearly demonstrates that a significant number of agencies are systematically charging Filipino migrant domestic workers fees well in excess of the legal maximum. Yet, very few are ever charged in the Philippines or Hong Kong,” said Shiella Estrada, chair of PLU, which published the report.

The PLU said 84% of the Filipina helpers interviewed paid an average of Php52,644 in fees to Philippine agencies despite a government ban on placement fees. The agencies also forced experienced workers to undergo training for bigger profits, Estrada said.

Norma Muico from Rights Exposure who headed the PLU research said that despite claims of protecting the workers’ rights, the Philippine and Hong Kong governments have “failed to adequately monitor, prosecute and punish agencies that act illegally.”

She said that for 2014 and 2015, the HK Labour Department secured only 10 convictions for overcharging, and the agencies found guilty of excessive fee collection and unlicensed operation were fined only $1,500 to $45,000.

LegCo member Fernando Cheung said the corruption in the recruitment trade seen 20 years ago is still “widespread…with blatant violation of the law in placement, inspections, and importation of migrant workers.”

He said even those recruited in Hong Kong who choose to exit to Macau are charged excessive fees. He rued the exploitation of migrant workers by employers and agencies, saying that despite the disrepute that the Erwiana case brought upon Hong Kong, its people still treat migrant workers inhumanely.

“Without public concern and without sufficient pressure, we will continue to see these problems. So I think we really have to find ways to mount a social movement. It is not only changing or amending the law, one way to crack the nut is to press the government to exercise what it has to do and go after these employment agencies… and charge them according to the law,” Cheung said.

Joshua Mata from SENTRO said the workers should unionize so they are better protected.
“Unless they unionize, domestic workers cannot really access all the rights that even legislation cannot give them,” he said.

He also said China should ratify ILO Convention 189 on decent work for domestic helpers so Hong Kong is also bound by it.

Claire Hobden from the ILO Decent Work for Domestic Workers unit said only 10% of the world’s domestic workers enjoy full labor protection, and “yet they work the longest hours without sitting down to rest”.

“Of the 67 million domestic workers worldwide, 11 million are migrants and 20% of these migrant domestic workers are in East Asia. Yet Asia is a region where domestic helpers enjoy little protection,” Hobden said.

Also present were LegCo member Leung Kwok-heung and former legislators Lee Cheuk-yan and Emily Lau.

Civil service exam in HK to be held only at Delia Hip Wo

Delia Hip Wo is the sole venue of the first Civil Service exam outside the Philippines

 About 500 OFWs who are due to take this Sunday’s Civil Service examination at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre will now have to join the rest of about 1,000 examinees at Delia Memorial School Hip Wo in Kwun Tong for the test.

Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre disclosed the change of venue today, Nov 23, just four days before the scheduled examination.

Labatt De la Torre and his staff have been contacting the examinees who were earlier advised to go to the HKCEC for the exam, the first ever to be administered by the Civil Service Commission outside the Philippines.

The POLO official told The SUN cost issues had prompted the CSC to ditch the HKCEC as test venue.

He did not say how much the HKCEC would cost but said Delia was charging $40,000 for the use of its campus for the Nov. 27 examination on.

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office issued an announcement this afternoon which Labatt De la Torre posted on his Facebook page.

“Due to technical issues with the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center as venue for the Nov 27 Civil Service Exams, we have decided to hold the exam only at Delia School at 221 Hip Wo St., Kwun Tong. Recommended transportation is by MTR, (Green Line) Kwun Tong Station, Exit A1.

“All registered examinees are advised to proceed to DELIA SCHOOL on Sunday, and to give allowance for walking (about 15 minutes from Exit C3 and looking for the venue).

“Please be reminded to bring BLACK PEN, and the following:
1) Original of the proof of payment

2) Copy of the CSC application form;
3) Passport

“The exam will start at 1 pm and end at around 4 pm, but the examinees should be at the Delia School at 12 noon. Latecomers will be allowed to take the exam but they will have to finish the exam at the same time as the rest of the examinees.

“TO ALL EXAMINEES: PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE WITH YOUR FULL NAME IF YOU HAVE READ THIS MESSAGE. THANK YOU. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.”

Maguindanao massacre victim’s kin leave for US on refugee status

Myrna Reblando and daughter.

By Vir B. Lumicao

The widow and daughter of a Filipino newspaperman who was among the 58 people killed in the Maguindanao massacre on Nov 23, 2009, are now in the United States leading new lives as refugees.
Myrna Reblando and her 19-year-old daughter Julia left Hong Kong last month after more than five years of waiting in the SAR for a third country to grant them refuge.

Myrna, wife of the late Manila Bulletin correspondent Alejandro Reblando, came to Hong Kong in April 2010 with her youngest daughter to address a forum organized by AHRC.

They decided to stay and file torture claims with the Immigration Department, citing threats to their lives, so they would not be forced to return home.

They were granted refugee status on July 14, 2014 by the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHCR) but had to wait for more than two years to get resettled.

“Yes, Myrna and Julia are now in the US. They left Hong Kong on Oct 13,” The SUN learned on Oct 29 from Danilo Reyes, who is on leave as deputy director of the Asian Human Rights Commission.
Reyes said the Reblandos were assisted by a staff from International Organization for Migration, the United Nations agency on migration, in their travel to the U.S.

“I’m not sure exactly what documents were used, but I’m sure they were not Philippine passports,” Reyes said, adding that he was not aware if they changed names.

The Reblandos were among hundreds of Filipinos who had come to Hong Kong to seek asylum on grounds of persecution or threats to their lives back home.

Hong Kong does not grant refuge to asylum-seekers but evaluates torture claims and provides temporary shelter to claimants while the UNHCR screens their applications.

According to Immigration, all the applications made to its Torture Claims Board by Filipinos have all been rejected.

This was corroborated by Reyes, who confirmed that the Reblandos’ claims were unsuccessful.
“Myrna and Julia’s claims were rejected by the Board earlier. We appealed (their case) to the Torture Claims Board, but before the Board decision on their appeals came out, the UNHCR Hong Kong confirmed their refugee status determination,” Reyes said.

“So, their resettlement in the US was by virtue of their being declared refugees by the UNHCR, not by the Torture Claims Board,” Reyes said.

In an interview with The SUN two years ago, Reblando expressed fear for the safety of her family in the Philippines after 17 police officers who were among the suspects in the killings were allowed to post bail.

“How can we avoid fearing for our safety when the very same suspects who were among those who planned the massacre are allowed to post bail?” she said.

Reblando said there had been threats to her family after she led the widows of the other victims in a vocal crusade for justice against Maguindanao’s powerful Ampatuan clan, the prime suspects in the massacre.

Alejandro was with 31 other journalists and 26 civilians in a vehicle convoy escorting the wife of then Vice-Governor Esmael Mangudadatu to the Commission on Elections office to file her spouse’s candidacy for provincial governor when they were massacred.

Governor Andal Ampatuan Jr and his father, Andal Sr. were among those jailed for the killings. The case remains unresolved, nearly seven years since it happened.

Atrasado ang suweldo

Laging atrasado ang sahod ni Hilda. Sa loob ng limang taon mula nang una siyang manilbihan sa kanyang amo na nakatira sa Braemar Hill sa North Point hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay mabibilang sa kanyang mga daliri ang buwan na hindi naatraso ang kanyang sahod.

Noong una ay nahihiya pa siyang ipaalala sa amo ang kanyang sahod pero kalaunan ay naglakas-loob na siyang magsabi, lalo na kung halos isang linggo na itong atrasado.

Nitong nakaraang buwan ay laging abala ang kanyang mga amo at madalas ay gabing-gabi na kung umuwi ang mga ito. Sa umaga naman ay lagi silang nagmamadali sa pagpasok sa opisina kaya hindi siya makakuha ng tiyempo para ipaalala ang kanyang sahod.

Kaya noong dumating ang kanyang day-off ay sinadya niyang hintayin na magising ang amo bago umalis ng bahay. Nang makita siya ng amo ay nagtaka ito dahil nandoon pa siya kahit tanghali na. Sinabi niya na wala siyang pera at agad namang nag-alok ang amo na pahihiramin siya.

Nang iabot ng amo ang pera sa kanya ay tinanong nito kung kailan niya babayaran ang hiniram. “As soon as you give my salary,” sabi ni Hilda. Saka lang naalala ng amo na ilang araw na ang lumipas pagkatapos ng araw ng sahuran.

Natatawa itong pumasok sa kuwarto at nang muling lumabas ay dala-dala na ang buong halaga ng sahod ni Hilda.—Gina N. Ordona 

Civil service vacancies open to exam passers in HK

By Vir B. Lumicao

Many vacancies need to be filled up in the government service back home and those who pass next Sunday’s civil service examination for Hong Kong-based OFWs would be eligible to fill up those vacancies, an official of the Civil Service Commission said.

Fernando Porio, director of the CSC’s Examination, Recruitment & Placement Office, also said that the holding of the first-ever exam for Filipinos in Hong Kong, is part of the government’s reintegration plan for returning OFWs.

He said the CSC could also hold the exam in other countries where there are OFWs, as long as the overseas posts concerned would make a request

Close to 1,100 examinees will sit for the test this Sunday, Nov 27, at  the Delia Memorial School Hip Wo in Kwuntong. Of these, more than 100 are from Macau.

Those who pass the exam would be eligible to join government agencies once they decide to return home.

Porio said the CSC is excited to hold the exam in Hong Kong as it would mean helping Filipinos who would like to go home and enter government service.

Porio arrived in Hong Kong with two assistants on Saturday, Nov 19, for the orientation of the close to 80 volunteers who will act as proctors and watchers. The rest of his eight-man team will arrive this Friday.

“There are a number of vacancies that need to be filled up (in government offices),” Porio told The SUN during an interview at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office.

“These are first- and second-level positions to be filled up, some administrative, some clerical and professional positions. Marami,” he said.

Porio said the idea of holding the first ever civil service exam in Hong Kong was meant to enable returning OFWs to work for the government. This was reportedly communicated to CSC chair Alicia dela Rosa-Bala by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.

 “They told us that this is their (the government’s) intention and we support them. (Our) chairwoman, in her formal reply to the secretary of labor and employment said we are fully supportive whatever program the government has for the overseas Filipinos,” Porio said.

He admitted that there are still many political appointees among government employees, but said there certain standards used in vetting appointments.

“Hindi mawawala iyan (political influence)… But in any position like heads of offices, meron naman ang CSC ng qualification standards that all offices abide by,” he said.

  

Elderly Pinoy in bomb joke escapes jail term

By Vir B. Lumicao

The bomb joke was made aboard a Cebu Pacific plane

An elderly Filipino tourist who joked about a bomb in his bag just as a Cebu Pacific plane was about to fly out of Chek Lap Kok in October, managed to escape jail after pleading guilty in Tsuen Wan Court to misbehaving on an aircraft.

But Afri C. Cano, 66, was ordered to remain in Hong Kong since his arrest on Oct. 8 until his sentencing on Nov. 21 at Tsuen Wan court.

He admitted a charge of “communicating false information about the existence of a bomb” and was sentenced to one month in jail, suspended for one year.

His defense counsel had pleaded for a non-custodial sentence, citing Cano’s clear record, his remorse, and the urgent need for him to return home because his wife was suffering from cancer.  

Magistrate Edward Wong said Cano’s offense was serious but because of his clear record and physical condition, a suspended sentence was being imposed.

This drew a brief cheer from a handful of Cano’s supporters in the gallery and left his daughter in tears.

Cano’s trouble started after he, his wife, their two daughters and two grandchildren boarded the plane at Hong Kong International Airport for their 10:40am flight after a five-day holiday to celebrate two family events.

Soon after the family members took their seats on the plane, a flight attendant asked Cano to put his hand-carried bag in the overhead luggage compartment. But the defendant refused, saying: “There’s a bomb in my bag and that spill on the floor is gasoline.”

He later said he was kidding and apologized, but the flight attendant had already informed security, which immediately dispatched officers to arrest him.

An officer of Jardine Aviation Services who testified during the investigation said the incident had caused the flight to be delayed by one hour and 25 minutes. Flight 5J111 was able to take off only at 12:05pm.

The case was first heard by Magistrate Veronica Heung at Kowloon City Court on Oct 10, two days after the incident, but was moved to Tsuen Wan court for the trial hearing.