CE Lee pays tribute to Filipino migrants in Independence Day speech

 By Daisy CL Mandap

CE John Lee and ConGen Raly Tejada at the National Day reception

Chief Executive John Lee made special mention of Filipino domestic workers’ contribution to Hong Kong society in his speech at a reception hosted by the Philippine Consulate Friday night, to celebrate the 125^th year of Philippine Independence.

“As the two places continue to strengthen our collaboration, I wish to express my gratitude to the Filipino community in Hong Kong, particularly the hundreds of thousands of Filipino domestic helpers here, for their great contribution to our society. Thank you sincerely,” said CE Lee, before pausing to a resounding applause.

“We are thankful for their significant economic and social contributions over the years to the many families around Hong Kong, particularly in enabling many local women in families with children or the elderly to join our labour force,” he added.

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“You have helped to build our city into the thriving metropolis that it is today, and we are proud to have you in our vibrant community.”

CE Lee was the guest speaker at the gathering held at Aberdeen Marina where a large group of members of the Philippine House of Representatives led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, made a surprise appearance.

Consul General Raly Tejada hosted the event, the first to be held since 2019, when the diplomatic reception was almost thrown into chaos because anti-government protesters had overtaken a mall attached to the venue. 

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The three years of the Covid-19 pandemic halted the annual gathering.

At the resumption of the commemoration, officials from both sides hailed the “friendship” between China and the Philippines in their speeches.

CE Lee said this relationship was reaffirmed during a state visit to China by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in January this year, during which he had bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping.

EXTENDED TO JUNE 30!!

Following their meeting, the two sides issued a joint statement to further increase bilateral trade and co-operate in the key priority areas of agriculture, infrastructure, energy and people-to-people exchanges.

Lee said that in 2022, the trade between the two places amounted to US16.5 million, making the Philippines the 11^th largest trading partner of Hong Kong in the entire world.

In the past five years, including the three devastating years of the pandemic, the average growth of trade between the two territories was 4.6 per cent.

Officials from both sides enjoy a photo op  for the cutting of an Independence Day cake

Congen Tejada for his part said it was an officious occasion as 48 years to the day, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai signed a communiqué establishing diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China.

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“The Philippines values its long and historic relations with China,” said Tejada.

Rep. Romualdez who offered a toast to the continuing friendship between Hong Kong and the Philippines, thanked CE Lee for “securing, nurturing and protecting” Filipinos who have made the city their new home.

“We are most appreciative of this, which will not be lost in our relationship as we move forward,” he said.

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But he then lay bare what appeared to be the agenda of the lawmakers in visiting Hong Kong, which was to invite local investors to put money into the Philippines’ Maharlika sovereign fund, which has just been approved by both houses of Congress.

“May I personally invite Hong Kong businessmen to consider investing in our Maharlika Investment Corporation that will manage our sovereign fund which we hope to set up within the year once our president signs it into law?” he said.

Ironically, his toast called for independence, heroism and financial prosperity as Hong Kong is just starting to get back on track following the pandemic and the massive anti-government protests that preceded it.

“Let us all be heroes,” Romualdez said. “Let’s toast to a promise of independence, to its realization, and to everyday heroism.”

Also among the key guests was Deputy Commissioner Pan Yundong of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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Paano singilin ang among naghihirap

 

Ang employer na si Liu matapos ang pagdinig

Napaiyak ang Pilipinang si Redjylyn Moro kanina nang umupo sa pagdinig ng kasong isinampa niya laban sa dating amo sa Labour Tribunal upang habulin ang $23,700 na dapat bayaran sa kanya.

Nang tanungin ng clerk kung may problema siya, sumagot siya na na-miss lang nya ang dating among si Liu Sau Ching.

Lumabas sa pagdinig na wala silang pinag-awayan nang umalis siya sa bahay nito, at lahat ng hinihingi niya na umabot sa kabuuang $23,700 ay hindi tinutulan ng amo.

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May isang problema lang: hindi siya mababayaran ng amo agad-agad dahil nagkaroo ito ng problemang pinansyal.

Sa katunayan ay inaasa na lang nito ngayon ang pang-araw araw na gastusin sa buwanang ayudang $9,000 na mula sa programang CSSA (Comprehensive Social Security Assistance) ng gobyerno.

Kaya ang isyung natira kay Presiding Officer Charmaine Lo ay kung paano mapapayag si Moro na tumanggap ng buwanang bayad, at si Liu na ibigay ang kalahati ng kanyang ayuda.

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“Dapat kasi ay nabayaran na ang lahat nang ito noon pa,” ika ni Lo kay Moro. “Pero kung pipilitin natin siyang bayaran lahat, baka tuluyan na siyang hindi makabayad.”

Sumang-ayon naman si Moro: “Naiintindihan ko ang kanyang sitwasyon.”

Hiniling niya na idaan ni Liu ang bayad sa Tribunal, at ipasa ito sa kanyang bank account “upang may record na nabayaran ako buwan-buwan.”

EXTENDED TO JUNE 30!!

Nagsampa  ng reklamo si Moro matapos siyang umalis sa bahay ni Liu noong Abril dahil kulang sa minimum na $4,630 ang ibinayad sa kanya sa loob ng nagdaang taon, kaya naningil siya ng $13,700.

Naningil din siya ng isang buwang suweldo kapalit ng pasabi (in lieu of notice).

Sumang-ayon si Lo na tama ang paghahabol dito ni Moro. Ayon sa section 10 ng Employment Ordinance, ang isang manggagawa ay may karapatang umalis sa trabaho nang walang pasabi kung hindi siya nababayaran ng suweldo. Hindi rin siya mananagot sa pagbabayad ng isang buwang sahod; bagkus, siya ang dapat bayaran nito.

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Dahil hindi nakauwi si Moro sa Pilipinas mula 2015 hanggang 2022, naningil din siya ng $4,600 bilang kabayaran sa mga araw na dapat sana ay ginugol niya sa bakasyon (annual leave).

Idinagdag din niya ang air ticket, travel allowance, long service pay, $5,400 na nagastos sa hotel quarantine nang bumalilk siya noong Agosto 2022, at iba pa.

Matapos sumahin ang lahat at awasin ang mga nabayaran na ni Liu, ang natirang bayarin ay umabot sa $19,498.94.

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Natapos ang kaso nang magpirmahan ang mag-amo sa kasunduang magbabayad si Liu ng $4,524.50 bawa’t buwan sa loob ng 20 buwan.

Binalaan ni Lo si Liu na kapag pumalya siya ng kahit isang beses ay kailangan niyang bayaran nang buo ang natitira pa niyang utang.

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Chinese illegal worker jailed 16 months, another arrested

 

The Mainland visitor admitted doing illegal work, overstaying and using a fake HKID card

The Shatin Magistrates’ Court has sent out a warning against illegal work when it sentenced a woman visitor from the Mainland to 16 months in jail yesterday, June 7, after being arrested while working as a dishwasher in a restaurant in Wan Chai.

The defendant, aged 50, was also found to be in possession of a forged HK identity card.

She pleaded guilty to a charge of taking up unlawful employment for which she was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment. An additional month in jail was imposed for her guilty plea to a charge of overstaying and possessing a fake HKID card.

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According to a statement issued by the Immigration Department yesterday, another Chinese female suspected of employing the illegal was also arrested, and their investigation is ongoing.

The suspects were arrested during an anti-illegal work operation called “Twilight” conducted on Apr 24.

Separately, the police arrested a 66-year-old female visitor from the Mainland on Tuesday, June 6, after inspectors from the Labour Department found her to be working illegally as a dishwasher at a restaurant in Sheung Shui.

EXTENDED TO JUNE 30!!

The woman was also found to have overstayed her visa, and was in possession of a fake HKID card.

It’s not clear if the two cases are related.

As in the first case, a woman aged 42, was arrested on suspicion of hiring the illegal worker.

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Both suspects were still under investigation as of today.

Immigration warned that illegal immigrants who take up unlawful employment could be jailed for up to three years, and fined a maximum amount of $50,000.

Their employers face more serious consequences. The maximum penalty imposed on those who employ people who are not lawfully employable is 10 years’ imprisonment and up to $500,000 in fines. An immediate custodial sentence is prescribed for offenders.

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According to the sentencing guidelines laid down by the High Court, employers “must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment.”

This does not only involve a cursory inspection of the job applicant’s identity card. Rather, employers are obliged to make enquiries about the person and ensure that there is no reasonable doubt concerning the applicant’ lawful employability.

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Labour chief allays concern over alleged abuses of imported caregivers

 

RCHs are inspected regularly to ensure the rights of imported carers are protected, says Sun
(Caritas photo)

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun has sought to allay fears that imported care workers are being taken advantage of by the residential care homes that hired them.

Legislator Luk Chung-hung raised concerns about the working conditions of the non-local care workers during a question-and-answer question at the Legislative Council yesterday, Wednesday.

Specifically, Luk asked whether the workers who were brought in from the Mainland under the Supplementary Labour Scheme are being made to sign dual contracts so part of their salary is deducted illegally each month, that they are not paid the legal rate for overtime work, that they are not given housing allowance, and that they are given work outside of their scope of  duties, including working as substitute staff on rest days.

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The questions are seen to have far-reaching implications, especially as Hong Kong is poised to hire 3,000 more caregivers from overseas, to supplement the nearly 4,000 workers hired from the Mainland that are already in the city.

In his reply, Sun said the government attaches great importance to protecting the rights of imported workers, including those hired under the SLS.

“Imported workers enjoy the same protection as local workers under Hong Kong's labour laws, including the protection on payment of wages and restrictions on deduction of wages under the Employment Ordinance (EO),” said Sun in his reply.

EXTENDED TO JUNE 30!!

“In addition, imported workers and employers must sign a Standard Employment Contract (SEC) prescribed under the SLS to further protect the employment rights and benefits of imported workers.”

The SEC requires employers to pay wages to each imported worker by auto-pay and get them to attend briefings by the LD so they will fully understand their employment rights and benefits, as well as the channels for seeking redress and making complaints.

Sun said labour officers carry out regular inspections of workplaces and accommodations provided by employers, and have issued written warnings each year to violators. In 2020, 35 such warnings were issued, 48 in 2021 and 50 last year.

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Six employers were meted administrative sanctions, including one employer of a care home for the elderly, after being convicted of violating the Immigration Ordinance, Employees’ Compensation Ordinance or the Employment Ordinance.

The sanctions included the withdrawal of valid approvals for the offending employers to import workers, and banning them from participating in the SLS for two years.

During the inspections, some of the imported workers were interviewed directly to check whether there was any violation of their employment rights, and encouraged them to express their views or lodge complaints if they had been treated wrongly.

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The inspectors also provided the imported workers with information cards listing down their employment rights, along with the hotlines of the LD, the Immigration Department, the HK Police and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority, which they can call as needed.

Sun also disclosed that a total of 1,601 care workers were imported under the SLS in 2020, 1,699 in 2021, and 3,721 last year, amid a surge in demand because of the pandemic.

“ The LD will continue to adopt a multi-pronged strategy, including inspections, law enforcement, administrative sanction, education and promotion, to protect the rights and benefits of imported workers,” said Sun.

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MTR fine for abuse of elderly fare scheme doubled to $1k

 

Only those aged 60 and above may avail of the $2 concessionary fare

You may have hoped to get a discount of a few dollars by pretending to be a senior citizen and paying only $2 in fare, but you could now get fined by up to $1,000 if you are caught doing this under a new policy by the MTR Corporation.

Starting on Jun 25, users of the MTR found to have abused the concessionary fare scheme will be fined $1,000 instead of the previous $500.

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Users of the Light Rail and the MTR Bus found to have committed the same offence will be paying $370 instead of the current $290.

Apart from paying the shortfall or a surcharge on the spot, abusing the HK$2 Scheme is also an offense, with those convicted liable to imprisonment.

EXTENDED TO JUNE 30!!

Worse, repeat offenders or those who refuse to pay the penalty could be prosecuted.

"For passengers who refuse to pay the surcharge or are found to have repeated acts of fare evasion, the Corporation will institute prosecution against the persons concerned or hand them over to relevant government departments for follow-up," MTR said.

Not only the MTR has been targeted by the fare abusers, however.

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A survey conducted jointly by the Transport Department and public transportation operators between 2018 and 2022 found that more than 1,300 suspected abuse cases were found among passengers of the MTR, buses, ferries, kaitos, minibuses, trams, and event residents' shuttles.

Later this month, the TD will conduct territory-wide joint enforcement actions with public transport operators to combat abuses.

At the same time, the government has launched a publicity program to remind the public not to evade the law through advertisement placements on TV, radio and via posters.

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The MTR said it will also enhance its public awareness campaign, along with stricter ticket inspection

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Recruitment ng residenteng caregiver, gaganapin bukas at Biyernes

 

Ang mga pribadong RCH katulad nito ang mga unang pinayagang mag-import ng caregivers

Isang job fair na gaganapin ngayong darating na Huwebes at Biyernes, June 8-9, para sa mga Residential Care Home (RCH) – ang mga pasilidad na kumakalinga sa mga matatanda o may kapansanan -- ang maaaring magbukas ng unang pinto para sa mga Pilipinong caregiver sa Hong Kong.

Mga 1,600 na manggagawa ang kailangan para sa iba’t ibang posisyon sa 30 na organisasyong kasali sa job fair, na gagawin sa Southorn Stadium sa Wan Chai.

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Ayon sa anunsiyo ng Labour Department, bukas sa lahat ang job fair at walang bayad ang pagpasok dito. Mahigit 1,600 daw na trabaho ang iaalok sa publiko sa pamamagitan nito. 

Pero ayon sa sumagot sa kanilang hotline ngayong araw, para lang sa mga residente sa HK ang mga alok na trabaho sa job fair, at hindi kasama ang mga foreign domestic worker.

Magtatayo ng mga booth ang mga kasaling organisasyon upang tumanggap ng mga aplikante sa iba’t ibang posisyon, gaya ng care worker, training instructor, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, social worker, nurse, child care aide, programme assistant, administrative assistant at cook.

Ayon sa Labour, karamihan sa mga posisyon ay may suweldong mula $14,000 hanggang $23,000 na bubuksan sa mga caregiver.

EXTENDED TO JUNE 30!!

“Sasaglit ako diyan. Baka may oportunidad akong makita,” ika ng isang Pilipinong ayaw ipalabas ang pangalan.

Mahalaga ang resulta ng recruitment na ito dahil dito mas makikita ng Hong Kong kung gaano karaming mga residente ang interesado na mag aplay sa mga bakanteng trabaho sa sektor na ito.

Dahil sa malaking kawalan ng mga manggagawa sa mga RCH ay inaprubahan ng gobyerno kamakailan ang pag-import ng mga caregiver mula sa Mainland China at ibang bansa, kabilang ang Pilipinas.

Itinakda ang pagsisimula ng recruitment sa ilalim ng Special Scheme to Import Care Workers for Residential Care Homes sa June 19.

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Sa ilalim ng programang ito, bibigyan ng Labour ang mga RCH ng quota sa pag-angkat ng mga caregiver bilang kontratadong empleyado. Sila ang bahalang tumanggap ng mga aplikasyon mula sa mga imported worker na nararapat base sa kanilang pangangailangan.

Dahil may 4,000 nang caregiver mula sa Mainland ang nagtatrabaho na sa HK ngayon, may 3,000 posisyon pa ang pupunuin mula sa ibang bansa sa ilalim ng bagong proyekto na inaprubahan ng gobyerno noong Disyembre ng nakaraang taon. 

Hanggang 7,000 lang sa kabuuan ang maaring tanggapin na mga imported worker sa ilalim ng programang ito.

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Kabilang ang Pilipinas at Indonesia sa mga tinitingnan ng HK na magpupuno ng malaking pangangailangan nito ng mga careworker. 

Noong Enero ay bumisita si Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Chris Sun, sa Pilipinas at Indonesia upang ipaliwanag ang plano ng Hong Kong na mag-angkat ng 3,000 care worker para sa mga RCH.

Suportado ng mga opisyal ng Pilipinas ang plano.

Ang job fair ay bukas mula 11am hanggang 5.30pm sa 1/F, Southorn Stadium, 111 Johnston Road, Wan Chai (malapit sa Wan Chai MTR Station Exit A3. Para sa mga katanungan, tumawag lang sa tel no 2153 3985)

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Protect our children, CE says

The woman suspected of suffocating her 3 daughters to death is led away by police (RTHK photo)

Chief Executive John Lee has made an impassioned appeal to the public to help protect children in Hong Kong, a day after a woman resident of Indian descent was arrested on suspicion of suffocating her three young daughters to death.

"No matter what happens in a family, violence is not the solution, it would only exacerbate the problem. Same as every human being, every child has a right to live. No one should take away their lives. We must protect our children. There is always a very complicated array of factors behind family tragedies," Lee told reporters earlier today, Tuesday.

He said those who are in urgent need of help should not hesitate to ask for assistance, including from the government. People around them in turn, should go out of their way to help and enlist the aid of concerned government departments if need be.

He pledged continued support from the government at well as collaboration with non-government organizations and the private sector in extending help to those in need, including members of ethnic minority communities.

The visibly distraught HK leader appeals to everyone to help those in need 

Initial investigations revealed that the 29-year-old mother had separated from her husband and took the three children to live with her in a subdivided unit in Kweilin Street in Sham Shui Po.

Early yesterday she called the police and said her estranged husband had attacked their children aged 2, 4 and 5, with a knife, and had injured her as well.

Officers who rushed to the woman’s residence did not see any sign of her being injured, but noticed that she was incoherent. They found the bedroom door locked, and when they broke it down, saw the three girls lying on a bed, motionless. They rushed them to a hospital but they were already dead on arrival.

The woman has been charged with three counts of murder and will appear in Kowloon City court tomorrow.

The incident came just two days after a mentally ill man stabbed two women to death in a mall in Plaza Hollywood in Diamond Hill. Police said it was a random attack as there was no sign that the assailant knew the victims.