Philippine labor secretary quashes talks about China job for Pinoy domestic workers

(EXCLUSIVE)

By Daisy CL Mandap

Labor Secretary Bello says no talks held
on jobs for Filipino domestic workers in China

Philippine Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has denied being in talks with Chinese officials about a supposed plan to hire Filipino domestic workers in China for as much as Php100,000.

“I haven’t talked to anyone from China, much less agreed to meet with anyone next month on this,” said Secretary Bello in a phone interview with The SUN.

He said he was not aware of anyone from the Chinese embassy in the Philippines visiting his Undersecretary, Dominador Say, and disclosing any such plan. Neither has Bello been told of a plan for a follow-up meeting next month.

“How could there be a follow-up meeting when there was no initial meeting in the first place?”, Bello said. 

Ambassador Sto Romano says there
signs China wants to let OFWs in 

In Beijing, Philippine Ambassador to China Chito Sto. Romana said there had been indications that China plans to open its door to Filipino domestic workers. However, he said he was not privy to what Undersecretary Say disclosed to various newspapers in Manila, including the widely circulating Philippine Star.

“I am not in a position to confirm this report in the Philippine Star, talks are still exploratory at this stage, but there are indications that Chinese authorities are interested in opening the door somewhat to Pinoy household service workers (HSW). Shanghai & Guangzhou authorities have recently announced an experiment to grant work visas to Pinoy HSWs, these are pilot projects that could pave the way to more work visas for Pinoy,” said Ambassador Sto. Romana.

However, he said the Department of Labor and Employment may have more information on the matter as it is the lead agency on the Philippine side.

Labor Undersecretary Say prompted the comments after he told reporters in Manila earlier in the week that a delegation from the Chinese embassy had approached him about Beijing’s supposed plan to open its doors to Philippine domestic workers.

The Philippine Star quoted Say as saying that the salary to be given was Php100,000 (US$1,980), but he later told the South China Morning Post that the reported salary offer was not accurate.

However, he stuck to his original statement that he discussed the plan with Chinese embassy officials.

Say also said that China wants to hire 100,000 foreign domestic workers, but not all would come from the Philippines. Further, he said the scheme will be put in place in five major Chinese cities, including the capital, Beijing, and Shanghai.

But his statements were immediately dismissed by the acting head of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), further causing confusion.

In an interview with ABS-CBN, Undersecretary Bernardo Olalia said it was not true that there were 100,000 jobs available for Filipino domestic workers in China. The only jobs there now are reportedly only for teachers and call center agents.

"Lahat ng klase ng trabaho nasa website [ng POEA], kung wala, that job is nonexistent," Olalia was quoted as saying.

The conflicting statements from his two undersecretaries have prompted Secretary Bello to call for a meeting tomorrow, Aug. 3, to try and sort out the issue.

“I don’t know why my two undersecretaries are saying two different things,” he said.

But he reiterated that what was clear was that he had not met with anyone from the Chinese government on the reported plan.

Say’s statements caused a stir in Hong Kong, with many domestic workers saying on social media that if the reported salary was true, they would prefer working on the mainland instead.

Villanueva says OFWs
will go where pay is better

Several migrant workers have also started asking how they could apply for the China jobs, completely disregarding reports that the scheme, even if true, was still in the drawing board. 

Eman Villanueva, spokesman for the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB) said it was just natural for Filipino workers, being economic migrants, to go where the pay is better.

“It just shows that the salaries of migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong are no longer competitive,” said Villanueva. “Why else would our workers choose to go to a place where the labor laws are not as defined as in Hong Kong?"

He also said that sending more Filipino workers abroad was not desirable, as it shows the Philippines is not sincere about its promise to curb its labor export policy.

The Philippines has no bilateral labor agreement with China, although up to 200,000 Filipinos are believed to be working on the mainland, many as domestic helpers. Most of the workers are there as tourists, but some have managed to secure business visas which allow them a longer stay.

Most domestic workers are known to get between 6,000 and 7,000 yuan a month, which is far higher than the minimum allowable wage of HK$4,310 a month paid to their counterparts in Hong Kong.

Recently, Guangdong province and Shanghai have reportedly allowed foreigners to hire domestic workers from overseas, but it is not clear how many Filipinos have been hired under this scheme.

China to hire Pinoy maids at US$2k, says PHL labor official

Filipino maids in HK earn only a quarter of the
reported salary of their counterparts in China

China has reportedly taken the first steps to opening its doors to Filipino domestic workers at a monthly salary of nearly US$2,000.

This was according to Philippine Labor Undersecretary Dominador Say, who told newspaper reporters in the Philippines yesterday, July 31, that Chinese embassy officials had visited the Department of Labor and Employment to discuss the matter.

The initial deployment will reportedly be limited to five major cities in China, including the capital, Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen.

However, reports in Hong Kong indicate Shanghai has already allowed foreign residents to hire foreign domestic workers as early as July 2015. The first FDW to be hired was reportedly a Filipino, who was paid US$1,000 a month.

USec Say said that the Chinese delegation was “looking at the possibility of a Php1000,000 monthly pay” for the FDWs to be hired.

He also said a delegation from China will visit the country in September for further negotiations on the matter.

Philippine Labor Attache to Hong Kong Jalilo dela Torre told The SUN he has not been officially informed about the Chinese delegation’s visit.

His office has long been besieged with complaints from Filipina domestic workers who are brought into China by their Hong Kong employers to work there illegally.

On July 24, a Filipina hired in Hong Kong reportedly fell from a building in Shenzhen, two days after her employers took her back in the city for a holiday. The helper’s kin said the Filipina maid resented being brought there and had planned to break her contract.

Interviewed separately by the South China Morning Post, Say reportedly said he could not remember the name of the leader of the Chinese delegation, but that “he should be a commercial counselor, who came for his research.”

He also told SCMP that China was looking at hiring 100,000 FDWs every month, but that would include not just Filipinos, but also workers from other countries.

Say told reporters in Manila that the reason the Chinese want to hire Filipinos is because of the latter’s English proficiency. Say also said the Filipinos are seen to be “peaceful” compared to other nationalities.

The Chinese visitors also reportedly mentioned improving ties with President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration for the decision to hire Filipinos instead of other nationals.

“They will not have approached us if they are not serious with their desire to hire Filipinos,” Say reportedly said.

He said labor officials would wait for the outcome of the September meeting with the Chinese delegation to determine when the deployment can start.

During an earlier visit to China, Philippine Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello IIII said an estimated 200,000 Filipino domestic workers were working illegally on the mainland.

China does not allow foreigners to take up jobs in the country as domestic workers, so most of the illegal workers enter on tourist visas that allow them to stay up to 14 days each time. Others manage to secure business visas which cost more but allow them to stay longer.

Those who overstay their visas face fines of between 5,000 and 20,000 yuan (US$743-2,973), and in the more serious cases, even imprisonment of between five and 15 days. – from reports in Manila and Hong Kong

New balikbayan box rules take effect Aug 1 amid concerns

Bayan HK protests new balikbayan box rules

By Daisy CL Mandap

The new rules for sending tax-free goods in balikbayan boxes to the Philippines will finally take effect tomorrow, Aug 1, amid persistent worries among stakeholders about the additional requirements they must comply with.

The biggest concern relates to filling out a detailed information sheet which requires the sender to list down each item in the box, and give a corresponding value. If an item costs more than Php10,000 a receipt must be attached. Only personal and  household items in non-commercial quantity could be sent.

There is also a section where the recipient’s details must be supplied, to show that he/she is related within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity (immediate family members up to great grandparents and corresponding in-laws, if any) to the sender.

Senders must also attach a copy of the page in their Philippine passports with personal information, picture and signature. Dual citizens must also send proof of their dual citizenship.

The new law allows “qualified Filipinos while abroad” (QFWA) to send a total of three boxes in a year to designated relatives in the Philippines, with the total value of the goods not to exceed Php150,000, to avail of the tax-free privilege.

The rules were supposed to have taken effect on Christmas day last year, following the signing of the implementing rules and regulations, but were put on hold in the wake of an outcry from overseas Filipinos and forwarders.

Subsequently, BOC Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon signed Customs Memorandum Order 04-2017 on Jan. 24, further streamlining the requirements.

Info sheet p 1

Info sheet p2

As a result, some rules were relaxed, including one that required all new items to come with a receipt. 

But questions persist.

For Hong Kong’s leading forwarder AFreight, these include how the additional documents should be sent to the Bureau of Customs in Manila.

AFreight's Rosabelle Woolf

Initially, under the IRR, international forwarders must submit the information sheets and supporting documents “in secured electronic format” to their Philippine counterparts, which in turn, must forward the documents in like manner to the BOC within a specified period.
For goods that take three days to ship, as those coming from Hong Kong, the documents must be submitted 24 hours before their arrival. Those for goods that ship within seven days must be submitted 48 hours before arrival.
But according to AFreight’s country manager Rosabelle Woolf, they are still awaiting word on how the secure electronic transmission of the documents to the BOC could be effected.

“Medyo magulo pa sila sa Manila ngayon, but we will comply,” Woolf said. “We have already printed the new information sheets and we will be telling shippers to be ready with copies of their passports”.

This early, she said she gets asked questions by customers on how they could comply with some of the rules.

“Yung isa, ang tanong, paano kung hindi sila kasal nung pinapadalhan niyang asawa sa Pilipinas? Yung isa naman, ang pinapadalhan ay yung nag-aalaga sa anak niya pero hindi naman niya kamag-anak,” said Woolf.

In the Middle East, she said there were also questions from overseas Filipino workers who don’t have their passports in their possession because employers there routinely confiscate their documents to ensure they don’t run away.

In the BOC’s Facebook page itself, some OFWs in Japan expressed concern about the security of their personal information, and said they would rather pay customs duties than submit a copy of their passports.

Forwarders are also still in the dark on how the BOC could enforce compliance with the additional requirements, given that one 40-foot container alone holds 330 boxes, and around 25 containers arrive each day from overseas.

“If they do not open boxes and use only x-rays to check them, how could they possibly screen the contents of all those boxes to ensure that the rules are fully complied with?”, asked Woolf.

Further, they’re worried that partial compliance with the expanded requirements could hold up their entire shipment.

For militant migrant workers’ group Bayan Hong Kong and Macau, the new rules spell out more hardship for OFWs and their families.

The group and its allied organizations staged a rally in Central yesterday, July 30, and held aloft posters saying “hands off our boxes” or “Dagdag na tax, resibo at perwisyo sa balikbayan box”.

Bayan HK chair Eman Villanueva said they were against “the added inconvenience, the delays in the delivery of the balikbayan box and the possibility of added taxation to our OFWs.”

But according to Woolf, it is still too early to say how the new balikbayan box rules would impact OFWs and their business.

“Hindi ko pa nakikita ngayon,” she said. “Let’s see what happens in the next few weeks”.

What's on, where

Financial Health Desk
Aug 20, 1-5 pm (and every Sunday of the month)
PCG Service Area
This is a one-to-one, confidential advice for migrant women with specific money concerns, especially useful if you are in debt or have big financial decisions to make.
Conducted by: Enrich with support from the Philippine Consulate. For appointment, email participant@enrichhk.org or call 2386 5811

Fund-Raising Concert at St John’s 
The Cathedral of St. Michael  the Archangel (CSMA) Choir of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente of Bacoor City will hold a fund-raising concert at St. John’s Cathedral on Aug 13 at 4:00pm.  Proceeds will go to the repairs of the Bacoor Parish School, Ltd and the repairs of the St. Michael’s Cathedral, Bacoor City.
Please come. Please support this worthwhile activity. Ticket-price will be whatever you wish to give but please do give generously. For further information please call Fr Dwight dela Torre, Tel No. 2523-4157/2522-8261

Jehovah’s Witnesses Convention
Thousands of people from different nationalities are expected to converge in Hong Kong on Aug.4-6 for a rare gathering of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  A large number of attendees will be from the Filipino community in Hong Kong. There will be a section designated for Tagalog and Iloko speakers. Other language groups like Indonesian, Thai, Hindi and even Chinese Sign Language will have a simultaneous translation from English being the main language to be used during the program. The convention focuses on not giving up despite life’s challenges. It will help anyone in the audience to keep a positive outlook and live a happy life even in sad times.
The gathering is open to the public and is free of charge.
For details, call 9444 or email dfd_72@hotmail.com.

Proyektong puwedeng salihan

Support Coins for Bethune 2017

Calling all Filipino community organizations! Please help raise much-needed funds for the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, which is looking after distressed women domestic workers. Save your coins and put them in donation cans that are distributed for free by Bethune House, or make your own container. Just get the stickers for the cans from Bethune to make sure your donation counts. Cans and stickets are available at the office of the Mission for Migrant Workers at St John’s Cathedral from Sunday to Friday. Deadline for submitting the filled-up cans is Sept. 17, 2017 in time for the 31st anniversary celebration of Bethune House on Chater Road. Every coin that you give helps give food and temporary shelter to migrant women in distress, as well as emergency, medical and legal assistance. For enquiries, please call 25322 8264, email mission@migrants.net or send a message to the Facebook page, “Coins for Bethune Project”.

Wanted: Proctors for BLEPT
Teachers who passed the Board Licensure Examination  for Professional Teachers (BLEPT) are encouraged to enlist as proctors for the upcoming BLEPT on Sept 24, 2017.
Basic requirements: Photocopy of passport page with picture, Photocopy of PRC Licence, Transcript of Records (optional)
Submit the documents in person to NOPT at Bayanihan Centre on July 30, Aug 6, 13 and 20 from 9am-5pm. Accepted applicants are required to attend a briefing seminar, the schedule to be announced later. For further details call the NOPT hotline 5296 0156

Attention: Rugby enthusiasts
We, the Exiles Touch Rugby group are inviting rugby enthusiasts to join the team. We practice every Sunday at the Happy Valley Pitch 8 from 5pm to 8pm at the Happy Valley Pitch 8.  For those interested contact: Ghelai 65414432 whatsapp/sms or like Exiles HK FB page

Wanted: softball players
The all-Filipina softball team is now open for tryouts. Those who are interested, especially those with prior experience in the game may contact Team Captain Don Gaborno at 5318-5113

An invitation to play volleyball
Calling sport-minded Filipinas who want to play volleyball. A team is being organized by a group led by Shane Key Gonzales to compete in upcoming volleyball leagues in Hong Kong. Interested parties may contact Shane at 54498080.

Attention: Migrants with medical background
The Philippines Nurses in Hong Kong is inviting those with medical training or background (nurses, nursing graduates, caregivers or those who attended 1-day elderly care training seminar) to join our next seminar on  Elderly and Dementia Care on Aug 6, 13 and 20 at the POLO Conference Room, 11th Floor, Tower 1, Admiralty Centre. For more information contact Ms. Maybelle P. Frianeza at 28660640 or send a message at Philippine Nurses in Hong Kong Facebook Page.

Covers the period Aug. 1-15

TANDANG. Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
Sisiglang muli ang love life. Tamang panahon para sa engagement o pagpapakasal. May sapat kang oras ngayon para sa pamilya at trabaho. Magana kang kumain ngayon, at walang dapat ikabahala sa kalusugan, pero iwasan ang labis na pagkain ng matatamis. Kung may usaping legal, iwasan muna itong harapin upang mas mapaghandaan. Dagdagan ang sipag upang makamit ang gusto mo. Lucky numbers: 4,19,23 at 45.

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
Maswerteng linggo ito dahil ang mga paghihirap at kabiguan ay mapapalitan ng saya at kapanatagan. Tamang oras din para pagplanuhan ang susunod na hakbang sa love life. Handa kang maghigpit ng sinturon, pero may hindi inaasahang perang darating. Upang mapanatili ang kalusugan, piliin ang mga natural na pagkain na walang halong kemikal. Lucky numbers: 5,11,26 at 37.

BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Ayusin ang paghawak ng pera at iwasan ang labis na pamimili. Marami kang matatapos gawin dahil sa sipag at sigla mo ngayon. Pwede mong ipagyabang ang mga nagawa mo, pero kung sobra na, magugulat ka na lang sa magiging resulta nito. Ang pagiging mabusisi at maingat sa trabaho ang magbibigay ng positibong direksyon, lalo at magaganda ang iyong mga ideya at pwede mong ipagmalaki. Lucky numbers: 9,17,33 at 44.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96 
Mapayapa ang tahanan ngayon. Bantayang mabuti ang kalusugan ng mga anak, siguraduhing kumpleto sila sa bakuna. Ang inaasam na proyekto ay mangangailangan ng ibayong sipag at sikap, pero garantisado ang tagumpay nito. Mag-ingat sa ilang kaibigan. Sa linggong ito ay mga agam-agam ka, pero kung talagang realistiko at pursigido, magtatagumpay ka. Lucky numbers:16,22,31 at 39.

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97 
Makakaranas ng kagipitan, kaya ipagpaliban muna ang pagbili ng mga bagay na hindi agad kailangan. May tsansang makatagpo ang taong magiging mahalaga sa iyo. Kung ang kasulukuyang relasyon ay tila imposibleng maayos pa, huwag mag-atubiling bumitaw na. Sa gitna ng kalungkutan, piliting hanapin ang magandang bahagi ng mga bagay. Dahil sa nerbiyos ay nahihirapan kang harapin ang gawain at pribadong buhay. Sa piling ng mga kaibigan at pamilya, makakahanap ka ng kasiyahan. Lucky numbers:16, 20, 29 at 41.?

TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98 
Nang dahil sa selos ay nagiging problemado ang love life, piliting kontrolin ang emosyon. Maayos ang relasyon sa pamilya, lalo na sa mga anak. Sa trabaho, walang seryosong pangyayari ang sisira sa iyong pinaghirapan. Posibleng magkamali sa desisyon, humingi agad ng payo kung kinakailangan. Magiging maswerte sa pakikipagsosyo sa negosyo o transaksyong pinansyal, tamang oras na makipagsapalaran. Lucky numbers: 6,15,35 at 44.

KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87 
Magandang tiyempo ito na sumubok ng bagong bagay. Higpitan ang pagba-budget upang umayos ang pananalapi. May maliliit na hindi pinagkakasunduan, pero babalik agad ang saya sa pagsasama. Huwag masyadong maging mapaghanap at mahigpit sa ibang tao, alalahaning hindi ka rin perpekto. Maging diplomatiko sa pakikipag-usap sa pamilya upang mabawasan ang tensyon. Lucky numbers: 9, 17, 25 at 40.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88 
Kung gagawa ng hakbang, makakapagsimula kang muli ng maayos. Bigyan ng atensyon ang pananalapi, singilin ang mga may utang sa iyo. Huwag nang balik-balikan ang problema, matuto sa mga nagaganap sa kasalukuyan. Masaya ka at sabik kang makasamang muli ang ilang kaanak na lulusob sa bahay mo; magulo man at siksikan, matutuwa ka naman sa mga kuwentuhan at pasyalan. Lucky numbers: 18,26,34 at 40.?

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89 
Mapayapa at tahimik ang buhay mo ngayon, gaya ng gusto mo. Pagtuunan ng pansin ang pag-iimpok upang makaalpas na sa kada buwang problema sa pera. Lumabas din paminsan-minsan upang makakilala ng ibang tao upang madagdagan ang kumpiyansa sa sarili, at magbukas ng mga oportunidad. Kailangang din ng seryosong pakikipag-usap sa mga anak upang maibahagai nila ang kanilang mga alalahanin at balakin. Ito ang magpapatibay sa inyong pagsasama. Lucky numbers: 15, 18, 27 at 45.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Subukang lumaro o pumusta sa pagpili ng mga numerong 5,6,8 at 9. Iwasan muna ang paggawa ng malalaking desisyon, paglalakbay sa malayong lugar o pagsisiumula ng bagong proyekto. Bigyan ang puso ng bagong pag-asa, kahit pa nasaktan na ito; darating din ang para sa iyo. Kung walang sports na nilalaro, mag-exercise araw-araw, gaya ng jogging o paglalakad upang gumanda ang daloy ng dugo at paghinga at lumiit ang tiyan. Lucky numbers: 13, 22, 29 at 32.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91 
Masaya ang love life, ang relasyon ay patungo sa tamang direksyon. Positibong pagbabago ang mangyayari sa buhay mo, may mga bagong kakilala at kapaki-pakinabang na mga gawain. Gaganda ang pananalapi at may makakatuwang ka sa swerteng matatamasa. Lalo pang lalago ang kabuhayan sa pag-iinvest mo sa mga importanteng bagay. Mag-ingat sa mga pamamaga sa katawan. Lucky numbers: 20, 24, 28 at 36.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
Malaki ang tsansang matupad ang matagal nang pinapangarap. Bigyan ng sapat na kalayaan ang mga anak, kung nahihirapan, humingi ng tulong o payo. Mas mabagal at hindi sigurado ang mga kilos mo ngayon, mag-ingat sa mga gagawin. Maganda ang resulta ng isang papasukang transaksyon. Ayusin ang mga papeles sa negosyo upang maihanda ang mga plano mong gawin, at maisagawa agad ito.Lucky numbers: 7, 19, 26 at 41.

Filipina DH locked up 2½ months for attacking toddler

By Vir B. Lumicao 

A Filipino maid was sentenced to two-and-a-half months in prison on July 21 for assaulting the “unruly” four-year-old son of jailed business tycoon Carson Yeung a year ago.

Rochelle Lintag Dreck, 32, wiped away tears as she was sentenced by Eastern Court's Principal Magistrate Bina Chainrai. exactly a week after she pleaded guilty to five counts of common assault.

Dreck was sentenced to two months and two weeks in jail on each of the five charges, to be served concurrently.

It was far more lenient than the six-month prison term imposed on 41-year-old Carmella Sotto, on July 18 by another Eastern Court magistrate for slapping an 18-month-old baby girl on June 3.

Chainrai imposed the sentence after hearing from the prosecution that there were no medical and psychological reports because the assaults happened more than a year ago.

The prosecution also said the victim had suffered no permanent injuries, and submitted three photographs of the boy to the magistrate.

The magistrate had delayed the sentencing to wait for the psychological and medical reports on the victim, and a psychological report on Dreck.

Dreck’s counsel from the Duty Lawyer Scheme begged Chainrai for leniency, saying the boy had been naughty and that the maid herself had three children who had lost financial support since her arrest last year.

The helper admitted to assaulting the boy in the kitchen of Yeung’s house on Baker Road in Mid-Levels, at the Convention Plaza Apartments on Harbour Road in Wan Chai, and at Canossa Hospital on Old Peak Road in 2016.

Dreck was hired by Yeung in 2010, six years before the former chairman of the Birmingham Football Club was returned to jail after losing his appeal against a six-year jail sentence in 2014 for money laundering.

The attacks took place between Mar 9 and Apr 15, 2016, when the boy’s mother was in Shenzhen attending to her business and returning home on weekends, leaving the boy in the care of the two helpers.

In early 2016, Mrs Yeung reportedly noticed wounds on the boy but did not ask what caused them.

In May the same year, she again saw injuries on her son’s ears and asked the maids about them.

One of the helpers showed her videos she had taken of Dreck’s attacks on the boy, and the mother immediately called the police. In the videos, Dreck was seen slapping the boy, hitting his hands with a comb, and poking his lip and nose, causing nosebleed.

Maid gets 6 months’s jail for slapping baby

By Vir B. Lumicao 

There’s no excuse for hitting a child, an Eastern Court magistrate said on Jul 18 as she meted a six-month prison term on a Filipina who slapped her 18-month-old ward twice.

Carmela Sotto, 41, listened calmly as Magistrate Bina Chainrai rejected the defense’s mitigation that the maid was drowsy for lack of sleep and was startled when she hit the child. The defence claimed that Sotto had merely bent over to pat the baby girl in the crib to send her to sleep.

The diminutive maid pleaded guilty on Jul 3 when she was charged with “ill-treatment or neglect by those in charge of child or young person”.

The prosecution supported its case with CCTV footage of the maid hitting the toddler on the face and body before midnight on June 3, when Sotto was told to look after her as the employers left their flat in Queen’s Terrace, Sheung Wan, for a night out.

On the car, the female employer remotely monitored the video camera in her baby’s room and saw the maid hitting the child. The bosses called the police and Sotto was arrested.

For her guidance, Chainrai asked the prosecutor to look into previous cases. The first involved another maid who hit her infant ward and was jailed for two years and nine months after conviction in a trial. The second case involved a father who hit his child and was sentenced to 20 months.

In mitigation, the defense lawyer said Sotto just momentarily lost her balance as she reached out to pat the child, who was trying to get up.

“This was a one-off incident. She was aware that there was a camera in the room. This was a result of a lack of sleep, she felt very sorry for hitting the baby,” the lawyer said, adding that in the present case the child did not sustain any serious injury.

Chainrai, addressing the maid, said: “I do accept the mitigation that you lost control of yourself because of your lack of sleep, but that is no excuse to hit a child.”

The magistrate said although the child did not suffer serious injury, still the offense called for custodial sentence. Chainrai sentenced Sotto to six months in prison, discounted from nine for her guilty plea.

Mission for Migrant Workers director Edwina Antonio, who accompanied Sotto to court, told The SUN that domestic workers should be very careful when handling children.

“Maging maingat sila sa lahat ng oras dahil mahigpit ang batas ng Hong Kong sa ganyan,” said Antonio.

She noted that several helpers had been accused and convicted of ill-treating children even if some of the acts were obviously unintentional. She reminded the workers not to plead guilty right away as they could still have a fighting chance and avoid conviction.

“Sa kaso ni Carmela (Sotto), gusto man namin siyang tulungang umapela ay hindi na puwede dahil nag-plead guilty na siya,” Antonio said.

Pinay falls to death during Shenzhen trip with bosses

By Vir B. Lumicao 
(UPDATED)

A Hong Kong-based domestic helper from Cagayan plunged to her death on July 24 from a residential tower in Shenzhen, two days after she crossed the border to join her employers on a holiday there, the maid’s kin said.

A sister and an aunt of  L. Asuncion both told The SUN that the victim traveled to China on July 22 to join her employers’ family, who had left her alone for a week in Hong Kong.

The two were scheduled to travel to Shenzhen today, July 31, to identify Asuncion’s remains.

The Consulate in Hong Kong said its counterpart in Guangzhou had taken over the case and was investigating.

Townmates of the victim were shocked to hear the tragic news of Asuncion’s death on the evening of July 26.

“I can’t believe it. I know her very well because she was a sister of my friend and classmate in high school,” said one of her townmates who works in Hong Kong. 

The sister said the 28-year-old victim was single and had been working for her employers for only nine months. She had worked for another Hong Kong family previously but her contract was terminated after 10 months.

She said she could not believe that her sister would take her own life.

“Why did she have to go to China and do it there? She could have done it when she was left alone in the employers’ house in Hong Kong to use up her seven-day vacation leave,” the sister said.

On July 21, Asuncion reportedly messaged her sister about her coming trip to China with her employers’ family.

She also told her mother she desperately wanted to break contract and go back home, but was advised to be patient and stay put,  as life was hard in the Philippines.

This was not the first time the victim was taken across the border by her employer. On Dec 24 last year, she traveled to China with her employers’ family, and sounded jolly when she posted about it on Facebook.

“Ready to go.... God guide our trip with my employers together with their kids,” she wrote in her post.

But her mood visibly changed afterwards.

On Feb 5 this year, she replied to a friend’s comment welcoming her back: “Slmat…heheheheheh letcheng China yan

Online application for LET now open

By Vir B. Lumicao

The website that accepts registration: https://sple.prc-online.com.

Aspiring teachers among the legion of Filipinos working in Hong Kong can now apply online for the Special Licensure Examination for Teachers scheduled for Sept 24, according to the Professional Regulation Commission.

PRC chairman Teofilo Pilando Jr announced the simultaneous holding of the examination in Hong Kong and in Bangkok, Thailand, on the PRC website.

The PRC provided the link https://sple.prc-online.com  and activated it on July 26. The deadline for application is Aug 14, 2017. The National Organization of Professional Teachers in Hong Kong is hoping the deadline would be extended.

 The only uncertainty for the examination seems to the venue.

“We’ll have a clearer picture on the LET venue next week,” Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre told The SUN in reply to an online inquiry on July 26.

He had said earlier that he was booking the Delia Memorial School Hip Wo in Kwun Tong, where the Civil Service Examination was held last November.

Ahead of the delayed announcement, aspiring applicants in Hong Kong have been reviewing for the exam for the past two months.

NOPT currently has 180 members who have been taking lessons since May 21 with the Carl Balita Review Center, the group”s president Gemma Lauraya told The SUN.

“We started the review classes earlier to anticipate concerns among the reviewees, such as not having a regular day-off, being long-time graduates who have not kept abreast with the thrusts, trends and new curriculum of basic education,” Lauraya said.

She said some of the would-be teachers have lagged far behind on current events while others seem to be not interested, and will now have to catch up fast.

NOPT’s leader said her group is praying for better results this year than the 9.8% passing rate last year. She was also profuse in thanking all the government agencies that brought the exam again to Hong Kong this year.

The basic documents required for the exam application are: a photocopy of the Transcript of Records (with or without scanned picture and remarks “For Board Examination Purpose Only”); a photocopy of valid passport; and two passport-size pictures with a complete nametag in white background.

The exam fee of US$40 should be paid through Development Bank of the Philippines’ authorized remittance centers that would be posted on the PRC website.

After complying with the online processes, the applicants should submit their documents to the Philippine Consulate General, 1101 & 1601 Tower I, Admiralty Centre, 18 Harcourt Road, Hong Kong.

POLO will accept the printed and signed application form together with a photocopy of the remittance slip and the documentary requirements until Aug 20 only, the PRC said.

Original copies of the above mentioned document request should be presented to the PRC examination team for validation upon arrival at the exam venues.

After evaluating the applications, POLO will submit to PRC the names of pre-qualified applicants for Elementary Level and Secondary Level (per major subject of specialization) by Aug 28.

Sa aksidente, mabuti ang trained

Nasa dalawang linggong bakasyon si Melay sa kanilang bayan sa San Remigio, Antique, nang masaksihan niya ang isang aksidente na nagbigay halaga sa natutunan niya sa Hong Kong sa pagbibigay ng first aid.

Kasalukuyang nakasakay sa jeepney si Melay noong July 1, bandang alas tres ng hapon nang makita niyang nakahandusay sa kanal ang isang lalaki at kasama nitong bata. Aksidente sa motor ang dahilan.

Agad-agad na bumaba sa jeep si Melay dala-dala ang first aid kit na laging nasa bag niya. May sugat kasi ang bata sa noo dahil nauntog sa bato pagkatapos mahulog sa motor. Nang nakuha ang bata mula sa kanal ay saka niya tinakpan ng bandage ang noo nito para matigil ang pag-agos ng dugo mula sa sugat, bago isinara.

Sinenyasan niya ang sinakyang jeep na iwan na siya kahit nandoon pa mga gamit niya, at naghintay hanggang nadala na ng ambulansya ang mga naaksidente sa ospital. Nang makaalis na ang ambulansya ay saka pa lang sumakay muli si Melay ng jeep.

Naging malaking tulong kay Melay ang pagsasanay niya  sa first aid noong nasa pangalawang amo siya, at may bagong panganak na kailangan niyang alagaan. Ang mag-asawa ay parehong nurse kaya nadagdagan pa ang kanyang natutunan.

Ayon sa kanya, kahit hindi niya kakilala ang mga naaksidente o ang ibang tao na tumulong ay natutuwa siya na nandoon siya para mailigtas ang bata. Si Melay ay 39 taong gulang, may asawa at isang anak. - Rodelia Villar

An incredible turnaround

By J. Dela Torre                                      

Engie Rigonan 

I was struck by the way she told her story: straightforward, unembellished, even controlled.  I couldn’t find a chink in the armor, except only when she was advising OFWs to seek the help of the Almighty when in trouble, when she almost broke off in tears, but recovered just in time. At the end of the story, I was left with nothing but admiration for this woman, Engie Rigonan of Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City,  who from such a humble financial assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment of 10k was able to achieve so many things other people with more resources couldn’t have. Her strength of character and her unyielding spirit, and the way her family rallied behind her, were what delivered Engie and her family out of a deep financial hole.

Her husband, Joshue, was laid off by ABS-CBN as Technical Director sometime in 2006, and their five children being all of school age already, the couple went through some rough times. They were forced to borrow money and in no time at all were deep in debt. They decided it was time one of them went abroad to earn more and get them through their crisis. She applied with a POEA-licensed agency, and in a few weeks time, she was in the former British colony to begin working as a domestic helper, along with nearly 170,000 other Filipinas.

Hong Kong is temporary home to a large community of Filipinas who are forced, with a few exceptions, to live in crowded apartments. Though the labor justice system there generally works, there are sometimes horrid examples of maltreatment and abuse. In my time as Labour Attache there, we had documented cases of employers burning their domestic helpers with an iron or with scalding water. It’s probably the cramped conditions which breed contempt and resentment and make for these acts of cruelty. Employer and domestic helper are in such close proximity to each other, they notice each other’s every little fault. There’s no space that could act as a buffer zone. But I’m just engaging in conjecture because there are also many employers who live in the same small spaces but who treat their domestic helpers well, and consider them a part of the family.

Engie’s first employer had a machine-fed, wheelchair-bound 2-year old child. Unfortunately for Engie, she didn’t know how to operate the feeding machine. She was neither told by the agency that she needed to have knowledge of how the machine worked, nor was she given time to train, so she had to be transferred to a new employer. It was incredible that an agency, and a mother of a sick child, could be so irresponsible not to make sure that the domestic helper to be assigned to take care of the child knew how to operate the feeding machine.

Her employment didn’t work out well under the new employer, either. She had forgotten one morning to boil water for the employer, and after she had boiled the kettle of water, the employer in a fit of anger came close to throwing the scalding water at her. She demanded a new employer from her agency.

When the Immigration authorities demanded that she exit Hong Kong first before the visa with the third employer could be processed, the couple decided that she return to the Philippines for them to start a new life together. Joshue didn’t want his wife to come home inside a coffin.

She was jobless for a year after that. Finally, they chanced upon an announcement that DOLE was granting financial assistance for small businesses to be set up by former OFWs.

The business that was approved for assistance for Engie? Longanisa making.

The check must have been blessed. In a few years time, the business has grown to such proportions that the couple had paid their placement fee loan of P80t, they had moved from a slum area to a proper housing subdivision, and her children have been enrolled in the schools and in the courses of their choice—all these from a small capitalization of 10k. Magic? Or just plain old dogged determination?

How did she do it?

“I began peddling our product to our neighbors, to small stores, at my husband’s office and at my daughter’s work. In six months’ time, we began to make a profit. And we started to pay off our many debts, and our placement fee loan. Finally, we made the move from our home in a squatters’ area to a subdivision,” she exuded the sense of satisfaction at seeing their life turned around through success in her home-based business.

She estimates that she had made a profit of P250,000 from just P10,000 starting capital, a remarkable return on investment of 2,400%.

She had also expanded to making other food products like tocino, patties, boneless bangus, siomai, lumpia and other meat products, which she supplied to her husband’s officemates.

“And now, due to the small capital provided by the government, my daughter has graduated from Xavier University and is now gainfully employed at Isuzu,” she beamed with obvious pride. The other children are either graduating or are presently enrolled.

Still unbelieving that she’d done all that she said she had, I asked her pointblank: “Did your husband add any amount to the 10k to add to your capital?” She swears, “No, Sir, he never did.”

She counsels other OFWs who have been granted the same financial assistance:

“In business, whether small or big, if you don’t apply yourself, if you’re not aggressive—you will never prosper. If you really think about it, 10k is very small, but due to the fact that the whole family was involved in production and selling of our products, we were successful, not only in making a profit, but in turning our life around. We have constructed our house. We have gotten our eldest through college and the rest of our children are now enrolled in the schools and courses of their choice.

I hope that all those OFWs who have also been provided with capital by the NRCO should apply themselves and work hard at making the business a success. Hard work is the only way to success. If you have to wake up early and retire late at night, you have to do it. Do not give up. Don’t be discouraged by the setbacks that you will encounter. Most of all, never forget to ask for help from the Lord.”

At this point, her voice broke. “He is the only One you can turn to in times of troubles in your life.”

For a housewife like her, she says there’s no other way but to work hard. She’d wake up 4 o’clock in the morning and sleep late at night.

“There is no other way. If it were up to me, I would encourage all the wives and mothers planning to go abroad to just stay and be with their families. Go into business. If we can make it here, why go abroad? If we can sustain our needs through our business, there is no point in going away and be separated from your families. If you stay, you will improve your family’s life. You will improve your city. You will improve your country.”

If it were up to her, she wouldn’t want any of her children to go abroad for employment. But if they themselves want it, there’s nothing I can do, she says with uncharacteristic resignation.

“But,” her eyes lit up, “I’m glad two of her children have already shown promise of becoming entrepreneurs on their own right. They’re selling our products to their classmates. I want to encourage them to do more for our business. I want to break this cycle of having to seek employment in other lands, at least for our family.”
(From www.nrco.dole.gov.ph)

All about eggs

By Jo Campos

Eggs contain many vitamins and minerals that are essential to a healthy diet. They are generally regarded as the best source of protein. The best part is, eggs are readily available and are inexpensive.

Here are a few facts about eggs and some ‘egg-citing recipes’.

There are several health benefits that can be derived from eating eggs, including:

1) Strong muscles - the protein in eggs helps keep muscles working well while slowing the rate at which they are lost.
2) Brain health - eggs contain vitamins and minerals that are needed for the regular functioning of cells, including the brain, nervous system, memory, and metabolism.
3) Good energy production - eggs contain all the daily vitamins and minerals that are needed to produce energy in all the cells of the body.
4) A healthy immune system - vitamin A, vitamin B-12, and selenium are important to keeping the immune system healthy.
5) Lower risk of heart disease – the choline in eggs plays an important part in breaking down the amino acid homocysteine, which is associated with the development of heart disease.
6) Healthy pregnancy – the nutrients in eggs help to prevent congenital disabilities, such as spina bifida.
7) Better eyesight – The lutein and zeaxanthin in eggs help to prevent macular degeneration, the leading cause of age-related blindness. Other vitamins in eggs promote good vision.
8) Weight loss and maintenance - the high quality of protein in eggs help keep people energized and feeling fuller for a longer time. Feeling full prevents snacking, which reduces overall calorie intake.
9) Skin benefits – eggs contain vitamins and minerals that help keep skin healthy and prevent the breakdown of body tissues. A strong immune system also contributes to a healthy look overall.
However, it should be noted that the health benefits from eggs can only be experienced when they form part of a balanced diet.

Here are some of my favorite egg recipes:

JC’s Quick and Easy Mini Quiche 

Ingredients:
1 can (12 fl. oz.) evaporated milk
3 large eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded mild or sharp cheddar cheese
2 cups chopped, frozen broccoli, thawed and drained
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper

Instructions:   
1) Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease and lightly flour twelve 2 1/2-inch muffin cups.
2) Whisk evaporated milk, eggs, flour, salt and black pepper in medium bowl until blended. Stir in cheese, broccoli and bell pepper.
3) Spoon 1/4 to 1/3 cup of mixture into each prepared muffin cup, filling almost to rim*. Stir mixture frequently to evenly distribute ingredients.
4) Bake for 23 to 28 minutes or until knife inserted near centers comes out clean and tops are lightly browned.
5) Cool in pans for 15 minutes. Run knife or small, flat spatula around inside edges of muffin cups. Carefully remove quiches.
*NOTE: The number of quiches that you get will depend on the size of your muffin cups. Bake time may need some adjusting.
TIPS:
• Quiches can be made ahead and frozen. To reheat, place on baking sheet and bake in preheated 325° F. oven for 25 to 30 minutes or, place 2 to 4 quiches on microwave-safe plate and microwave on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 2 1/2 to 5 minutes or until hot.

Jamie Oliver’s Spanish Tortilla

Ingredients:

300 g waxy potatoes
1 onion
olive oil
5 large free-range eggs

Method: 
1) Peel the potatoes, then carefully cut them into thin slices. Pat the potato slices dry with a clean tea towel.
2) Peel and finely slice the onion. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of oil into a small frying pan over a medium heat, then add the onion and potatoes.
3) Turn the heat down to low and cook for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the onions have turned golden and the potato slices are cooked through. Try not to stir it too much or the potatoes will break up – just use a fish slice to flip them over halfway through.
4) Crack the eggs into a mixing bowl, season with a tiny pinch of sea salt and black pepper, then whisk together with a fork.
5) When the onions and potatoes are cooked, remove the pan from the heat and carefully tip them into the eggs. Transfer the mixture back into the frying pan and place it over a low heat. Cook for around 20 minutes, or until there’s almost no runny egg on top.
6) Use a fish slice to slightly lift and loosen the sides of the tortilla. Carefully flip the pan over a dinner plate and tip out the tortilla, then slide it back into the pan and cook for another 5 minutes, or until golden and cooked through.
7) Turn out the tortilla onto a serving board, then cut into 6 wedges and serve hot or cold with a simple green salad.
With the custard being puffed up a bit, pull the oven door open about 2 to 3 inches. Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes until the custard is cooked through.
To test, insert a toothpick into the custard. If it stands on its own, it’s done.

Hong Kong Style Egg Tarts

Ingredients of crust: 
200 gm plain flour
25 gm cake flour
125 gm butter
55 gm icing sugar
1 egg, whisked
a dash vanilla extract

Ingredients of custard:
2 eggs
70 gm caster sugar
150 gm hot water
75 gm evaporated milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Method (for the crust):
1) Place butter at room temperature until it softens
2) Cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer over medium speed until the mixture is smooth, fluffy and light in color.
3) Add in whisked egg, half at a time, beat over low speed.
4) Add vanilla extract, mix well.
5) Sift in flour in two batches, scraping down the sides of the bowl between additions with a spatula, and make sure all the ingredients combine well. Knead into dough. (see picture)
6) Roll out the dough to a 1/2 cm thickness. Cut dough with a cookie cutter that is just a bit smaller than your tart tin in size.
7) Line dough in the middle of tart tins, one by one. Lightly press the dough with your thumbs, starting from the bottom then up to the sides. While pressing the dough, turn the tart tin clockwise/anti-clockwise in order to make an even tart shell. Trim away any excess dough.
Method (for the custard):
1) Add sugar into hot water, mix until completely dissolved.
2) Whisk egg with evaporated milk. Pour in sugar water. Mix well.
3) Sift egg mixture to get rid of any foam into a tea pot. Carefully pour egg mixture into each tart shell.

Method (baking tarts): 
1) Preheat oven to 200C. Position rack in lower third of oven. Bake tarts for 10 to 15 minutes until the edges are lightly brown.
2) Lower the heat to 180C. Keep an eye on them. Once you see

No EJKs in the Philippines, says trade official

By Daisy CL Mandap

Trade and Industry Secretary
Ramon M. Lopez

There are no extrajudicial killings in the Philippines, only deaths that resulted from big drug syndicates fighting each other in the wake of the government’s massive anti-drug campaign.

This was the assurance given to investors by the Philippine Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, during the ASEAN-Hong Kong Business Conference held at Cyberport in Pokfulam on June 12.

“What we have been telling business people is, one, our President has been very clear that there will be no abuses. There will be no deaths under investigation. In fact, EJK is a word wrongly used. To us, there is no EJK because all of the police action taken...all are following rules of engagement. It is clear that if they (drug syndicates) fight back, they will be eliminated,” said Secretary Lopez.

He was responding to a question from Prof. Mark Thompson of City University of Hong Kong on how reports of thousands of people being killed as a result of the government’s anti-drug campaign have affected investors’ confidence in the Philippines.

Media reports in the Philippines and overseas have placed the number of EJK deaths to as high as 12,000 but Lopez said the figures are “all wrong”.

“The number is really 2,000 but recognizing again, that these..you are up against big drug syndicates and they are fighting back”, Lopez said.

He conceded that there could have been a higher number of casualties, but reiterated that this was the result of a “cleansing” among big drug syndicates, and did not involve the police.

Those looking at investing in the Philippines  must also look at the 70,000 “peaceful arrests” made by the police, Lopez said, as well as the three million drug dependents who have surrendered since the government’s campaign began.

Another controversial question he deflected came from Prof. Reuben Mondejar, also of City U, who asked about reports about President Rodrigo R. Duterte being in poor health, fueled by his disappearance from public view for as long as five days in a row.

Lopez laughed off the question, saying the President is “as strong as a carabao”.

In his keynote address, Lopez made a strong pitch for investing in the Philippines, calling the country as “one of the fastest growing economies in the world”.

He cited the country’s comparatively high GDP growth, which hovers between 6.4 to 6.8%. He said the high GDP is fueled by the growing confidence not just among consumers, but also investors.

“Make your company grow with us,” he urged investors. “President Duterte is very much into ensuring peace and cracking down on corruption.”

Lopez also thanked the organizers of the networking event, which brought together 10 ASEAN states, including the Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia and Brunei

The event was organized by HK Expat Networking to mark the 50th founding anniversary of ASEAN, and the Philippines’ hosting of the annual gathering of member-states in November this year.

iDOLE, katapusan ng dusa ng OFW

Pagkatapos ilunsad ng Department of Labor and Employment ang iDOLE ID card noong Hulyo 12 ay nakatakda nang simulan ang pamimigay nito sa mga manggagawang Pilipino na papalabas, o naroroon na sa ibang bansa.

Sa kanyang pahayag noong Hulyo 4, sinabi ni Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III na ang pinakahihintay na OFW ID card ay siyang magiging kapalit ng overseas employment certificate ang mga manggagawa.

Dalawang problema kaagad ang malulutas ng pagpapa-tupad sa nasabing ID card.

Una, mawawala na ang mahahabang pila ng mga aplikante para sa OEC exemption sa tanggapan ng Philippine Overseas Labor Office at sa mga kalapit na tulay sa Admiralty  na nagsanhi ng pagdurusa sa mga OFW noong mga nakaraang taon.

Pangalawa, mababawasan nang husto ang gawain ng mga tauhan ng POLO dahil sa paglaya nila mula sa nakauubos-panahong pag-aasikaso sa libu-libong taong dumaragsa sa nasabing tanggapan para sa OEC tuwing malapit na ang bakasyon ng mga OFW.

Para sa kanila na pumapasok kahit araw ng pahinga, ginhawang tunay ang iDOLE. 

Malaking kaluwagan at ginhawa din ang idudulot ng iDOLE sa mga manggagawa, na ang karamihan dito sa Hong Kong ay karaniwan nang nakatali sa mga gawaing-bahay at tuwing araw ng pahinga lamang nakakapunta sa POLO para sa iba’t ibang transaksiyon na nais nilang gawin.

Sa kasagsagan ng pagkuha ng OEC ay nauubos ang day off ng mga OFW, na karamihan ay mga kasambahay, upang pumila sa Admiralty para sa dokumentong nagkakahalaga ng  $20 na nagpapatunay na sila ay mga tunay na mga OFW.

Sa nakaraang tatlong dekada ay madalas na nagiging mitsa ng iringan sa pagitan ng mga manggagawa at mga tauhan ng POLO ang OEC dahil sa di-maiiwasang matagal na pagpila para sa dokumentong iyon.

Ipinangako ni Bello sa mga OFW nang dumalaw siya sa Hong Kong noong nakaraang Setyembre na aalisin ng gobyerno ang OEC dahil ayaw umano ni Pangulong Duterte na makita ang mahabang pila ng mga manggagawang Pinoy para sa kapirasong papel na nagsisilbing pases para makalabas silang muli kapag umuwi sila sa Pilipinas.

Samantala, mabibigyan na ng POLO ng sapat na atensiyon ang iba pang serbisyong ibinibigay nito sa mga manggagawang Pilipino tulad ng pagtulong sa mga may problema sa trabaho, ang mga may nilalakad kaugnay ng mga kontrata, at ang pag-aasikaso sa mga pagsasanay na ibibigay sa mga OFW upang mapabuti ang kanilang trabaho.

Makatitipid din nang malaki ang POLO pagdating sa pag-upa ng bagong opisina dahil hindi na nito kailangan ang malaking bulwagan tulad ng espasyong inilaan para sa mga kumukuha ng OEC sa Admiralty Centre nitong nakaraang dalawang taon.

Ang iDOLE, ayon kay Bello, ay siyang “pinakamagandang regalo” ni Duterte sa mga OFW at magbibigay-daan sa kanila upang mapabilis ang makipag-ugnayan sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno tulad ng Pag-IBIG, SSS, at PhilHealth.

Mapapabilis din ng iDOLE ang paghahanap o pagkuha nila ng kanilang mga record sa gobyerno gamit ang internet, at puwede rin nilang gamitin ito bilang debit card at ATM card para sa mga bangko ng OFW, o bilang “beep card” sa LRT at MRT.

Higit sa lahat, posible diumanong magamit kinalaunan ang nasabing ID bilang electronic passport, dahil nasa smart chip nito ang lahat ng personal na impormasyon tungkol sa nagmamay-ari ng iDOLE. Kailangan na lang ang isang maayos na sistemang mag-uugnay sa mga kaukulang ahensiyang susuri sa mga detalye ng bawat OFW.

Kapag naipatupad ang paggamit sa iDOLE bilang pasaporte, maaaring ito na ang magiging modelo sa pagpapatupad ng isang pambansang ID tulad ng sa Hong Kong na kailangan upang mapadali ang anumang transaksiyon ng madla sa mga ahensiya ng pamahalaan at sa pribadong sektor sa Pilipinas.

Know your rights on rest days

By Cynthia Tellez

The South China Morning Post recently published a very popular article, drawing on the research of the Mission for Migrant Workers , and featuring an experiment in which a reporter spent the night sleeping in a cramped space to simulate the experience of many migrant domestic workers.

Experiments like this are interesting, the point being to make a difficult experience translatable for the journalist, and thus understandable for the reader. While the sleeping experiment seemed to catch the eye of many readers, there are other experiences faced by domestic workers that are not as easy to simulate, or even imagine, by an outside observer. For instance, could most people imagine working every day for weeks or months straight without a full day off, under the careful watch of one’s employer?

Rest days have become a central issue for migrant advocacy in Hong Kong. As anyone who has ever done difficult work knows, rest is crucial for one’s continued well-being, and domestic work is no exception. Every domestic worker is entitled to one rest day every seven days. A rest day, defined by the Labour Department of Hong Kong, is a “continuous period of not less than 24 hours during which an employee is entitled to abstain from working for his employer.” If an employer does not grant a rest day on a Sunday in a week, they should give a substitute rest day within the same month or the next thirty days. These requirements are stipulated in the Employment Ordinance but, in practice, many employers take advantage of their workers. Currently, there are many domestic workers who are not allowed to take regular rest days.

There are several ways employers violate workers’ rights to rest days. The most obvious is of course the simple denial of a rest day to the worker. At the Mission we meet women who have worked for months without a single full rest day.

But there are other, less obvious ways in which rest day laws are not obeyed by employers. One common practice is the creation of a “curfew time” for a domestic worker. Many employers demand that their domestic worker return at a given time on a rest day. Workers in these cases are unable to enjoy the full 24-hour period of rest to which they are entitled. Imposing a “curfew” is illegal yet is usually the norm in Hong Kong.

Another common scheme of some employers is to require their domestic worker to do some housework before going out on a rest day. Curfew is imposed because the worker is required to do more tasks upon her return home.

There is also the issue of irregular rest days. Usually, domestic workers in Hong Kong will take Sundays off, but if this is not possible, at least inform the worker about her day off on the first day of the week, so that she can plan her activities ahead of time.

Many employers make last-minute changes which prevent the domestic worker from having a regular rest day, in-sync with others in their community. As well as being psychologically and physically important, taking a break from work has a social component as well. Making and maintaining friendships, collaborating with other people in creative activities like bands, and organizing with town mates, religious, and cultural groups, are what most domestic workers do on rest days. Most often, these activities occur on Sundays, in commonly used public areas like Chater Road, Central for Filipinas, and Causeway Bay for Indonesians.

Without a shared, regular rest day among domestic workers, individuals cannot meet in person, and social and cultural bonds are weakened, and access to resources hampered considerably. Without a regular rest day, individual workers cannot plan their private lives properly. How can a worker schedule an appointment, for instance, without knowing when they will have time off? How can a mother plan a long Skype call with her family back home without knowing when she’ll be off from work?

The fact that rest days are so commonly overlooked and ignored is indicative of the exploitative practices of those with power over people with certain types of jobs. Many migrant domestic workers are unable to spend their days off in their usual resting place at night in the employer’s home because that is also their workplace. When there is lack of privacy, there is uneasiness when employers do their jobs in their presence; and in some cases, employers also expect them to do the work while they are “around”.  Many employers fail to see the private lives of their workers as valuable, at least in the same way they’d see their own or their friends’ private lives as valuable. The denial of rest days reveals many employers’ belief that migrant domestic workers should have no life in Hong Kong outside of work.

When rest days are not properly granted but you still want to keep your job, find a way to set regular meetings with your friends, keep a diary of what happens daily in your chores, how you are told that you have no day-off for the week, or that when you asked, your employer just ignored you. You can send the Immigration such complaints. Not granting a rest day in a week is a violation of the employment contract and persisting in such violation could be construed as a breach, or a termination of the contract by the employer.

If you feel your rights to a full rest day have been violated, file a complaint at the Labour Relations Division of the HK Labour Department (LD), and furnish the HK Immigration and the Philippine Labor Office proofs of this violation. The LD should be able to review your case and if warranted, file a case against the employer for failure to abide by the law. The maximum penalty for such a violation is $5,000.

Institutions like the Mission can provide timely assistance in cases where one’s right to a rest day is violated.
---
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.

OFWs in Macau renew campaign against offloading

Emer de Lina 

Migrant workers in Macau have stepped up a campaign against the offloading of their family members leaving the Philippines by launching a petition campaign against the practice on July 2.

Migrante Macau chair and protest organizer Emer de Lina said the practice carried out by Bureau of Immigration officials in Manila is discriminatory and insulting.

“It is discriminatory because this only happens to OFWs’ relatives, as well as other ordinary Filipinos, not bigwig politicians or their…wives.  It is insulting, because the Bureau of Immigration officials in Manila assume that the offloaded migrant Filipinos are illegally leaving the country, when they merely want to visit us.” De Lina said in a press statement.

She complained that those who are prevented from taking their flights to Macau are left with no recourse because there is no complaint mechanism for those offloaded, much less an investigation.

“If the passenger was treated wrongly, what can be done to resolve the problem? How long will it take for it to be resolved? And what can be done so that it will not happen again? Our relatives are guilty until proven innocent,” she said.

The offloading has reportedly led to dire consequences for the migrant workers, as they end up losing not just sleep over the failure of visiting family members to board their flights, but also a substantial sum.

De Lina said the workers usually buy promotional air fares which are non-refundable so if their relatives are turned away at the airports, they end up buying tickets for them again.

Workers also pay for the authenticated affidavit of support from the Consulate at more than MOP200 each, as the document purports to show that they will be taking care of their relatives’ financial needs while in Macau.

“However, this is disregarded by BI officials. In addition, there are allegations that these officials solicit bribes from our held-up relatives so that they will be able to leave,” De Lina said.

The protesters are urging an immediate end to the offloading at all international airports in the Philippines, and for the Bureau of Immigration to duly recognize the affidavits of support issued by the country’s consulates and embassies abroad.

They are also calling for the said affidavit to be issued free of charge as an “added recognition of the invaluable contribution made by migrant Filipinos to our country.”

Further, they asked that the “corrupt officials” involved in the offloading of passengers be investigated and prosecuted.

The protesters revived their longstanding campaign against offloading after Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano promised at a community dialogue in Hong Kong on July 2 that he would raise the issue with Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II upon his return to Manila. – www.sunwebhk.com

Family holds mass for suspected suicide victim

By The SUN Staff

Family and friends after the mass at the Consulate.

Family members and friends of a 34-year-old Filipino driver believed to have hung himself gathered for a memorial mass at the Consulate on July 9.

V. Pedroso, 34 years old, was found hanging from the ceiling of his room at his employer’s house on Shouson Hill Road in Deep Water Bay at about 7:42 am on July 3. His brother, who also worked as a driver for the same employer, made the grim discovery.

Pedroso’s body was taken to the Victoria Mortuary in Kennedy Town, where final rites were performed on July 23 just before it is brought back to his hometown of Batad, Iloilo.

He is survived by his wife and two young children.

Police said no suicide note was found. However, Pedroso’s brother reportedly told staff at the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section that the victim had been depressed for some time because of a family problem.

ATN staff said the employer had undertaken to pay for the costs of repatriation, and had also donated money to the victim’s family.

Pedroso had been working for his employer for three years; and his brother, for six. A sister also worked at the same household until she decided to go home the night before the victim was found dead.

Their father had reportedly worked for the same employer for 20 years previously.

The police are still investigating the case.