Ex-OFW forced to go home because of brain tumor gets P75k Aksyon fund

 

Febe at the OWWA office last year, when an agency owner cursed her on the phone

A Filipina former domestic helper who was forced to go home in April last year after being terminated when diagnosed with brain tumor, was pleasantly surprised on Wednesday, June 18, when she was given Php75k from the Akap Fund of the Department of Migrant Workers.

Febe S. Anor, 53, said the money was transferred to her bank account that day, less than a month after The SUN personally brought her case to DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac, along with her medical records from Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan.

Anor expressed gratitude at the unexpected windfall, and said it would help a lot in her recovery, and in the small online business she started using the Php20,000 reintegration fund given her by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

PINDUTIN DITO

She also received an extra Php30,000 in medical assistance from OWWA, which she said she had used for medical check-ups and medicines after she returned home.

Although she is able to carry out her business selling frozen foods online, she said she is still too weak to carry heavy stuff, so she asks customers to pick up their orders from her home.

“Salamat ng marami sa tulong ninyo. Ingat po kayong lagi (Thanks for all your help. Always take care) and God bless you always,” said Febe by way of thanking all those who have helped her.

Febe was helped by her INK friends in boarding the plane that took her home  

What prompted many people to help Febe, including her church mates at Iglesia ni Kristo in Hong Kong, was her calm and kindly manner which never wavered even in the face of seemingly insurmountable hardship.

Even after she was sacked, forcing her to seek temporary shelter in a four-floor walkup with help from her church friends while hardly able to walk, she never whimpered nor said unkind words about her employer.

This, even after her employer had all but abandoned her so she had to pay all her hospital bills herself and for her food and accommodation.

Basahin ang detalye!

At that time, the employer said Febe could not go back to their house anymore as no one would be there to look after her while she was recuperating. The employer said their employment agency would take care of providing her temporary accommodation while she waited for the day set for her brain surgery.

But as if she was being tested, the agency owner turned out to be mean, and had tried to get her to fly back to the Philippines at the first opportunity, even while she was still waiting for her next hospital appointment so she could have the staples on her skull taken out.

When she refused to comply, the agency owner only gave her soup as she recovered from her surgery, leaving her with no choice to ask her friends for help again.

Worse, she was not paid her full unpaid salary, and reimbursements for her medical expenses

But the worst was yet to come. When she sought help from OWWA so she could be paid in full, the agency owner immediately called her on the phone, and started to harass her. As she had set the phone on speaker mode, everyone who was in the OWWA office at the time, including then welfare officer Dina Daquigan, heard the employer shout f---g b—ch to Febe, before hanging up.

Febe still had these staples on her skull when the agency first tried to send her home

Still unshaken, Febe sought help from Assistant Labor Attache Angelica Sunga who took prompt action, warning the agency owner that if the helper’s rightful claims were not paid, all their pending transactions with the Migrant Workers Office would be put on hold.

Not surprisingly, the agency had a change of heart and decided to add $1,600 to the amount originally offered to her. Febe did not think twice about accepting the offer, happy that her long ordeal was finally about to end.

 In all, she received only $9,600 from the agency, which was supposed to cover her unpaid salary, one month in lieu of notice, and reimbursement for her hospital, food and accommodation expenses, but she decided to just take it and go home to ease her mind and spirit.

 

 

 

55 Asylum seekers deported from HK

The deportees are loaded onto a van on the way to the airport

Hong Kong Immigration has deported a total of 56 “unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants” back to their countries of origin over the past three days.

The deportees were either overstayers or had entered Hong Kong illegally, and were fighting off immigration’s attempt to send them back home in a vain bid to be cleared for asylum in a third country.

Their being described as “unsubstantiated” claimants means they failed to meet the criteria set for their being granted asylum, such as political or religious persecution in their home country.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Among them were former foreign domestic helpers as well as discharged prisoners who had committed criminal offences.

According to a statement released by Immigration earlier today, the deportees comprised 28 men and 28 women, but did not disclose their nationalities.

Basahin ang detalye!

But it is likely that a big number of them are Filipinos who have just been released from prison after being convicted of crimes such as money laundering, theft, illegal work or violating their visa condition by overstaying.

According to Immigration, it is committed “to promptly removing unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants from Hong Kong to maintain effective immigration control and safeguard the public interest.”

The deportees are escorted directly to the plane that took them back home

Under the updated removal policy that took effect from Dec 7, 2022, Immigration may in general, proceed with the removal of a claimant whose judicial review case has been dismissed by the Court of First Instance… “thereby enhancing the efficiency of and efforts in removing unsubstantiated claimants.”

This could be done even if the claimant has lodged an appeal against the CFI’s decision not to grant leave for a review of Immigration’s decision to reject the non-refoulement claim.

Depending on circumstances and needs, Immigration said it will expedite the removal process by closely liaising with governments of major source countries of non-refoulement claimants, airline companies and other government departments.

It reiterated its commitment to repatriate unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants from Hong Kong “as soon as practicable through all appropriate measures.” 

 

Philippine Alliance inducts officers

 

Consul-General Israel administers oath to the Executive Committee

The leadership of the Philippine Alliance Hong Kong, one of the biggest and oldest federations of Filipino organizations in the territory, took their oath of office in ceremonies that formed part of its Independence Day celebration. 

Consul General Romulo Victor M. Israel Jr. and Vice Consul Allan G. Revote administered the oaths last Sunday (June 15) to the officers in three batches.

The first group to be inducted was the Executive Committee that will serve for 2025-2027, led by  Dante P. Berido, Chairman; and Leilani A. Campos , President.

With the group were Theresa S. Villalon , VP Administration; Marivic E. Tabarnero, VP Program; Jessita Villanueva, VP Finance; Leonora G. Abellon, VP Operation; Andres Dela Cruz Ramos Jr., VP Promotion; Ricky G. Marquez , VP Protocol; Sarah R. Sumaylo, General Secretary; Gerlyn Caigas, Asst Secretary;. Rose Marie R. Manuel, General Treasurer; Fayeh A. Guevarra , Asst Treasurer; Basilisa Mirasol B. Galimba, General Auditor; Arthur Buban , Communication Director; Marie Rivera, Spokesperson; Elizabeth E. Mina , Board of Director Luzon; Catherine C. Macua , Board of Director Visayas; Lynn M. Encinas , Board of Director Mindanao; James Carlo L. Tagalicud, Board of Director Sectoral.

The second group consisted of committee heads for 2025-2027.

They were:

VP ADMIN TEAM: Training Officer Zenaida E. Sarmiento, Record Officer Elena Talingdan

VP FINANCE TEAM: Budget Officer Rowena Maure, Logistic Officer Ginalyn Saldevar 

VP PROGRAM TEAM: Event Coordinator Marlie F. Pareno, Cultural Officer Ernalyn T. Vicente; Medics/Fitness Officers Raissa Mae R. Rapacon, Mellicent M. Villanos, Honelet L. Ganano, Mary Ann B. Inovejas; Sports Coordinators Shine Gamboa, Reymundo S. Escobar

Basahin ang detalye!

VP OPERATION TEAM: Interfaith Coordinators Myrna C. Ignacio, Victoria B. Adriosula; Welfare Coordinators Romulo Esquierda, Lily S. Agdan; Project Coordinators Jessie Marcos Sanut, Anita H. Tahud

VP PROMOTION TEAM: Information Officer, Linne P. Pessimo; Tourism Officer Maricel C.Limen VP

PROTOCOL TEAM: Guest Coordinator Mylene Enano, Peace Officer Marites Macapagal.

 Vice Consul Allan G. Revote swore in the third group , which consisted of committee heads:

Admin Team: Training Officer, -Zenaida Sarmiento, Record Officer: Elena Talingdan, 

Finance Team: Budget Officer Rowena Maure, Logistics Officer Ginalyn Saldevar

Program Team: Event Coordinator Marlie F. Pareno;  Cultural Officer Erma Vicente; Medics/Fitness Officers Raissa Mae R. Rapacon, Mellicent M. Villanos, Honelet L. Ganano, , Mary Ann B. Inovejas; Sports Coordinators Shine Gamboa, Reymundo S. Escobar 

Operation Team: Interfaith Coordinators, Myrna C. Ignacio, Victoria B Adriosula Welfare Coordinators: Romulo Esquierda, Lily S. Agdan Project Coordinator: Jessie Marcos Sanut, Anita H. Tahud

Promotion Team: Information Officer Linne P. Pesimo, Tourism Officer Maricel C. Limen

Protocol Team: Guest Coordinator Mylene Enano, Peace Officer Marites Macapagal

Unemployed Pinoy jailed 6 months for theft, failing to produce HKID

 

The case was heard at Tuen Mun Court

An unemployed, homeless Filipino was sentenced Thursday to two imprisonment terms that totaled six months for stealing a knapsack containing a laptop computer, and then failing to show his Hong Kong Identification Card when accosted by a police officer in Yuen Long later.

A. J. Delfino, 25 years old, who pleaded guilty during an earlier hearing at the Tuen Mun Court, will serve the sentence after he has finished an earlier prison term, details of which were not revealed.

Magistrate David Chum sentenced Delfino to six months in prison for stealing the bag inside a laundry shop on Sai Ching St., Yuen Long, last April 3. Inside the bag was a computer worth $5,000, for which Delfino was ordered to compensate the owner in full.

Basahin ang detalye!

Five days later, when accosted by a police officer on Kiu Tak St. in Yuen Long, Delfino was unable to produce his identity document, for which Magistrate Chum jailed him for another two months for violation of section 49 of the Public Order Ordinance.

Chum ordered the two sentences to run at the same time.

62-year-old OFW dies of heart attack, family appeals for help

 

Celia passed suddenly due to heart attack, after 17 years of working in HK (photo from Facebook)

The family of the late Celia Cusipag Tolentino, 62 years old and a native of Solana, Cagayan, is asking for help in raising funds to cover the cost of her funeral and other related expenses.

Celia passed away suddenly on June 13 at the Caritas Hospital, a day after being rushed there unconscious due to a heart attack. Her family said they knew Celia had hypertension, but it did not seem to concern her much.

Two of her three adult children rushed to Hong Kong in response to a call from Celia’s employer the day before, saying their mother was in critical condition. However, she had already passed when they got to Hong Kong.

Basahin ang detalye!

While here, they managed to get in touch with Social Welfare Attache Rem Marcelino who told them that apart from the Php120,000 burial assistance from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, they will get an additional P100,000 from the Aksyon Fund of the Department of Migrant Workers.

Her employer, on the other hand, will pay for the cost of repatriation, plus the air ticket of one of her children who came to Hong Kong.

However, it is still not clear whether the money will be disbursed in time for the expected repatriation of Celia’s remains in two weeks’ time. Her children said she will be buried in Solana after a short funeral.

Her older daughter, Maceng, said their mother had been with her current employer only since January this year after her previous contract was pre terminated in December last year.

She deferred her exit from Hong Kong to last April, when she managed to go home to Solana for two weeks.

Maceng said she and her siblings had asked their mother to just go home for good, but she decided to go back to her Hong Kong employer, as she wanted to save up for her retirement.

Celia had just started working in Hong Kong 17 years ago when she was already 45 years old, when her husband died, leaving her to raise their four children by herself.

In 2015, another tragedy occurred when her eldest son and Maceng's husband died in a traffic accident, leaving two young widows and six children betweem them, who Celia also tried to help support.

But her biggest expense, that of sending her twin youngest children to college, had just ended, with the two finishing courses in veterinary medicine and engineering only recently, and have now both started working.

Had she managed to hold on a bit longer, Celia could have retired with ease and in peace, knowing that her years of hard work in Hong Kong was about to bear fruit.

(The online OFW concern group, Social Justice for Migrant Workers, is helping raise funds for Celia’s family through one of its administrators, Divina Apostol, who also hails from Cagayan. Please check out their Facebook page for details. You may also contact Maceng directly through WhatsApp on +63 954 234 6434).

 

 

3 suspected human traffickers arrested at NAIA

 

NBI agents arrested the 2 alleged traffickers at NAIA Terminal 1

Two Filipinas, one bound for Thailand along with an alleged human trafficking victim; and another, who tried to intervene in the first woman’s detention, were recently arrested by operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation and charged with human trafficking and illegal recruitment.

Named suspects in a press release issued by the NBI yesterday, June 18, were Kaye Alfaro and Dahlia Mendez Batiller. The two are believed to be part of a bigger group involved in fake documentation to allow the trafficking of Filipino workers to scam hubs in Cambodia.

The arrests on June 12 came after a passenger, alias “Maria”, was stopped at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 as she was about to leave for Thailand.

Basahin ang detalye!

When questioned by immigration officers, she disclosed that she had been promised a job as customer service representative in Thailand with a salary of Php60,000 and as a nude model in Cambodia, where the pay would be USD5,000.

Maria said Kaye told her to pay Php70,000 to an alleged “escort” at the Bureau of Immigration who would guarantee that she would pass scrutiny.

However, both women were offloaded by immigration officers who noticed inconsistencies in their accounts of their intended travel.

The second arrest was made after Dahlia visited the NBI office at the alleged instruction of a certain Hanna, to intervene in the investigation of Kaye and Maria.

Further investigation revealed a network of individuals involved in the alleged trafficking of Filipinos for work in Cambodia, where they are likely to end up being used to work as online scammers.

Apart from Kaye, Dahlia and Hannah, also named as part of the syndicate were a certain Ian and a Jemar Pajarito.

Kaye and Dahlia who were found not to be licensed recruitment agents were placed under arrest by agents of NBI-IAID while Maria was sent to a social worker with the Department of Social Work and Development for processing according to standard procedure for trafficking victims.

In what appears to be a related incident, a passenger identified only as Mary was arrested at NAIA Terminal 3 as she was about to fly to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

This was a day after another Filipina passenger bound for Malaysia was found to have a fake NBI border stamp and boarding pass, and she named Mary as the source.

In turn, Mary pointed to a certain Hayya Diane Molina as the source of the fake documents.

Molina, also known as Diane Fiona, reportedly introduced herself as an immigration officer who could help Mary’s illegal departure from the Philippines. She asked Mary to transfer USD1,920 (or Php110,000) for this help.

Following Mary’s arrest, Diane was picked up at NAIA Terminal 3 where it turned out she was not an immigration officer as she claimed, but a technical support staff of a private company maintaining card readers at the immigration counters.

Diane, Kaye and Dahlia were arrested on charges of illegal recruitment under section 6 of RA 8042 or the Migrant Workes and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 as amended by RA10022, and of human trafficking under section 4 of RA 9208 or Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended by RA 11862.

Hannah and her other alleged accomplices are still being sought.

Immigration says over 1k illegal workers prosecuted last year

This man was among those arrested for illegal work last year

Immigration crackdown on illegal work has intensified in the last two years, with the number of prosecutions last year almost doubling compared with 2022.

The figures were supplied by Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung, in the question and answer portion at the Legislative Council earlier today.

The arrests last year totaled 1,172 comprising 1,013 illegal workers and 169 employers. For 2023 it was 943 workers and 109 employers, while in 2022 it was only 539 workers and 138 workers.

Basahin ang detalye!

For the first quarter of 2025, there have already been a total of 301 prosecutions for illegal work, comprising 262 workers and 39 employers.

Secretary Tang said the government remains committed to crack down on illegal employment “with a view to protecting job opportunities for the local workforce.”

As such, he said the government will continue to actively combat illegal employment on various fronts, including stepping up inspections, “cyber patrols” and law enforcements, and strengthening publicity and education.

Hong Kong law considers illegal employment a serious offence, with not just illegal workers being prosecuted but also employers and middlemen or “aiders and abettors.”

Tang said that part of the deterrence effort was the move by government to raise the penalty for employers of illegal workers. The maximum fine was increased to $500,000 from $300,000 along with up to 10 years in prison.

“The directors, managers, secretaries, partners, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability,” said Tang.

Apart from this, the High Court has prescribed an immediate custodial sentence to anyone found employing illegal workers.

 

Pinay awaits verdict after money laundering trial ends

Photo for illustration only

A Filipina who has insisted at Eastern Court that she was not the one who opened accounts at two internet banks which were used to launder more than $2 million, will know the court's verdict on Jun 30.

Analiza Talay, 48 years old, said she was misled in an internet gaming promotion to provide a copy of her Hong Kong identity card, which was later used to open an account with MOX Bank and another with ZA Bank.

On cross examination yesterday, she tearfully insisted she was not the one who opened the MOX account in which crime money amounting to $1,746,610. 41 flowed in and out between March 19 to 28, 2023, and another with ZA Bank through which a total of  $478,1271.52 was laundered from March 19 to 27, 2023.

The money flows were used as basis for two charges of “dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence,” in violation of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

Basahin ang detalye!

Deputy Magistrate Chung Wing-sze adjourned the case to June 30 for verdict after Talay, a former domestic helper, testified on the third and final day of her trial.  Her bail of $5,000 was extended.

Meanwhile, trial was scheduled for July 21 at Eastern Court for a similar case against Imelda Maqueda, 54 years old, who earlier pleaded not guilty.

During pre-trial review today before Acting Principal Magistrate David Cheung, prosecution said it will present one witnesss while defence will present Maqueda as witness.

Maqueda is accused of dealing in $312,497.50 in illegal funds that were deposited and withdrawn between Dec. 17, 2020 and Jan. 8, 2021 in her Hang Seng Bank account.

She was remanded in jail after the hearing.

In still another money-laundering case at Tuen Mun Court, Reamae Davila, 40 years old, was returned to jail after Magistrate David Chum adjourned her case to June 26.

Her case arose from the infow and outflow of $934,596.60 in her Bank of China account between 13^th and 28^th of May, 2024.

Filipinos in HK asked to submit personal data in case of emergency

 

To take part in the survey, target respondents should click on the link above, or scan the QR code

All Filipinos in Hong Kong, whether working, studying or residing in the city, are being asked to submit some basic personal information to help the Philippine Consulate track them down “in times of emergencies, such as natural disasters and other crises.”

An advisory posted on the Consulate’s website today, Tuesday, said the collection of data is part of its  Mapping Survey for all Filipinos who are in Hong Kong.

Vice Consul George Soriano who is in charge of the assistance to nationals section of the Consulate, said the Filipino community should not be unduly alarmed by the survey as it is just a contingency measure “in view of the escalating security situation globally.”

Basahin ang detalye!

Although most Filipino domestic workers would have their personal data stored with the Migrant Workers Office as they are required to submit their employment contract there for verification, a small percentage, including permanent residents, asylum seekers and undocumented nationals would not be in the Consulate’s data base.

The survey, which has so far been filled out by about 100 Filipinos, asks for the full name of the respondent and contact details, as well as their contact persons in Hong Kong and in the Philippines.

Vice Consul Soriano assured the public that all information they would submit would be treated in strict confidence, and would be available only to the PCG.

However, this was immediately belied by an apparent glitch in their system, which showed much of the data submitted by the respondents to appear on screen after this writer had clicked on the button signifying consent at the end of the form.

The displayed data included such information as the number of respondents so far, where in Hong Kong or the Philippines they hail from, as well as the telephone numbers and email addresses of their emergency contacts.

Gender reveal: Not surprisingly, initial data from the survey show
nearly 90% of the respondents are females

Soriano said he would immediately alert the Consulate’s tech department so the glitch could be corrected.

A data base on all Filipinos living in Hong Kong would come in handy, not just in times of disasters but also to locate those who have been reported as missing – usually former migrant domestic workers who had gone underground after their visas had expired.

The very first time the Consulate had tried to track down Filipino nationals in earnest was when the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS rapidly spread across Hong Kong in early 2003.

Then Consul General Victoria Bataclan assembled a command post in the Consulate to try and keep track of all Filipinos, especially migrant workers, who were working in the infected areas.

A data base would have been as useful when the Covid-19 pandemic was wreaking havoc not just in Hong Kong, but in all parts of the world.

 

 

Theft charges against 2 Filipinas to be elevated to District Court

Photo is for illustration only

Two Filipinas charged with theft for three counts of pickpocketing, today drew closer to a transfer of their case from Eastern Magistracy to the District Court.

Jay-ann Benlot, 30 years old and carrying a baby, and Rebeca Quirante, 67, were remanded in jail after today’s hearing by Acting Principal Magistrate David Cheung.

Magistrate Cheung adjourned the case to July 17 for the preparation of transfer papers.

Basahin ang detalye!

In the first charge, Benlot and Quirante are accused of stealing a wallet containing $2,000 and 80 Chinese yuan from a shopper at the Emperor Watch and Jewelry Centre on Russel Street in Causeway Bay on Nov. 10, 2024.

Four days later, on Nov, 14 2024, they allegedly stole another wallet containing an Octopus card and $1,500 from a shopper in the Muji store in SoHo Mall on Long Yat Road in Yuen Long, according to information filed by police.

The third charge involved a mobile phone allegedly stolen by the two later that day at a claw machine in a shop on Cheung Sha wan Road, Sham Shui Po.

Meanwhile, at the West Kowloon Court, a Filipina asylum seeker, Arlene Managtag, pleaded not guilty to stealing another person’s recognizance card on Sept. 24 last year. A second charge, for allegedly stealing a mobile phone, was dropped.

Magistrate Edward Wong scheduled the trial for Aug. 4.

Philippine Alliance honors longtime migrant workers

 

Melita Garibay, who has worked for the same employer for 44 years,
receives her plaque from Consul General Romulo Israel 

More than 200 people turned out at one of the biggest Filipino community events of the year, the “Gawad Parangal 2025”  organized by the Philippine Alliance Hong Kong to honor Filipino domestic workers who have served in the city for no less than 12 years.

A total of 154 FDWs were feted at the event that lasted for more than six hours, and was attended by Philippine consulate officials led by Consul General Romulo M. Israel and representatives of various corporate donors.

Top officials of Cebu Pacific Air led by its president and chief commercial officer Xander Lao, also came to award return air tickets to any international destination to five top awardees.

Basahin ang detalye!

Philippine-based broadcaster Ben Tulfo, who narrowly missed winning a Senate seat in the national election last month, was supposed to be a special guest, but was instead represented at the last minute by his son, Carl.

Feted for being not only the longest-serving FDW but also the most loyal, having worked for only one employer in the past 44 years, was 71-year-old Melita Garibay, who was nominated by the group Social Justice for Migrant Workers.

Garibay who is single and has been in the employ of an octogenarian Chinese couple, said that if her employers decide not to renew her contract anymore, she will settle back in the house that she has built in her Pangasinan hometown.

Cebu Pacific handed her its “service award,” for having toiled for nearly two-thirds of her life in Hong Kong.

The other recipients of the free return air tickets were Edna B. Fontanilla and Rita C. Blanchard, who have both worked in Hong Kong for a total of 43 years, Vilma Manganaan who has worked for the same employer for 41 years, and PA chairman Dante Berido, who was cited for his leadership.

In his speech, Congen Israel noted that the event was also billed as “Kalayaan Ball 2025,” which meant it was also held to celebrate the 127^th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence.

He reminded the audience to remember the sacrifices of the country’s heroes, particularly Dr. Jose P. Rizal who also lived and worked in Hong Kong, so Filipinos can have the freedom that they now enjoy.

“We are doing this commemoration to keep their memories alive,” said Congen Israel.

Congen offers toast to Philippine Independence

He also took the opportunity to greet Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers in the audience, as well as to the many FDW mothers who have been standing in place of their absent partners in raising their children.

PA president Leilani Campos said her group first decided to pay tribute to long-service FDWs in 2019, but only among members of their affiliate organizations.

Campos said the initial tribute was called  “Dakilang Ina,” in honor of FDW mothers who have worked away from their family for years, in hopes of providing a better future for their children.

“Naisip naming parangalan sila dahil nakikita naming na matatagal na sila dito sa Hong Kong, at gusto naming silang pasalamatan sa mga sakripisyo nila para sa kanilang pamilya,” said Campos.

(We thought of honoring them because we noticed that they had long served in Hong Kong and we wanted to thank them for their sacrifices for their families).

Campos recalled the tribute pleased many in the audience, including then Consul General Antonio Morales who was asked to hand out the awards.

Campos (middle, in orange) leads PA officers in dance number

The coronavirus pandemic halted all Filcom activities until 2023, when PA decided to restage the handing out of awards to long-staying FDWs.

“This time, open na sa lahat pero dapat may mag nominate sa kanila (na organisasyon) at ang title ay Gawad Parangal OFW Bayani Ka,” hanggang nagtuloy-tuloy na,”said Campos.

(This time, it was open to all but the participants should be nominated by an organization and the event was titled “Gawad Parangal, OFW Bayani Ka,” and it continued to this day).

Through social posts, especially from winners who proudly announced their awards, the PA’s annual tribute gained traction so that this year, a total of 47 organizations have taken part, either as endorsers of candidates, or as participants in the Kalayaan Ball.

Even sponsors like Cebu Pacific have been so impressed with the unique event that they doled out  more than they promised, and have indicated a willingness to continue their support each year.

 

FDHs send home bulk of their income, survey shows

Sending money home has become a bigger expense for foreign domestic helpers, according to a survey conducted recently by the Mission for Migrant Workers (MFMW) and the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM).

These remittances accounted for 63.98% of their total monthly budget, a significant increase from 31% in 2018, the survey found.

The survey was conducted in time for the celebration of International Domestic Workers Day today (June 16), “to update our understanding of the spending patterns of migrant workers since our last research in 2018,” the groups said.

Basahin ang detalye!

Among its findings was that 96.84% of respondents were sending money home.

The average remittance amount was $2,689, with 70% of respondents remitting between $2,000 and $5,000” per month, the two organizatons added.

The Minimum Allowable Wage for FDHs has been set at $4,990 per month since September 29, 2024, but 58% received the minimum allowable wage of $4,990 or below since many were still on contracts they signed when the minimum wage was $4,870 a month.

The survey showed that 14% of the respondents were underpaid.

Although 42 per cent received higher than minimum wage, the additional amount was not much higher as the average wage amounted to $5,099.24.

The second biggest expense is loan payments, which were made by 23% of migrant domestic workers. Over half of them spent $1,000 to $3,999 monthly on these loans.

Additionally, 5% of respondents incurred monthly agency fees, primarily new arrivals in Hong Kong for less than one year.

When other expenditures were counted, 26% of the respondents reported that their income was short by an average of 9%, the survey found.

“These findings highlight the financial challenges faced by migrant domestic workers and the need for continued advocacy and support. We call upon the community to join us in supporting migrant domestic workers' campaign for a living wage and address the financial challenges faced by migrant domestic workers,” the two rganizations dded

For its part, the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body Hong Kong (AMCB-IMA HKM) re-launched its 3Ws campaign to fight for Living Wage, Regulate Working Hours and Workers’ Rights of the 30,000 migrant workers in the territory.

“From January to June 2025, the Indonesian Migrant Workers’ Union (IMWU), Filipino Migrant Workers’ Union (FMWU) and Mission for Migrant Workers Union (MFMW) have received complaints from more than 916 MDW” the group said. “The common complaints are long working hours, no regular day off, termination and accommodation problems.”

According to the AMCB-IMA HKM, 376 out of 916 (41%) work 11 to 16 hours a day, with 11% working for more than 16 hours.

In addition, more than 11% do not have a regular rest day and still work even on their day off before leaving their employers’ house.

“The large number of terminations, at least 4% of which are employer-initiated, is also worrying” the group said.

“In the past six months, there have been at least 349 cases of termination along with malicious ‘job-hopping’ accusations. Due to the worst working conditions MDWs were forced to terminate their contract but It seems like MDWs have no right to change employers even if they are struggling, while employers can change helpers anytime they want,” it added.

In celebration of International Domestic Workers Day, it is only right to recognize the contribution of Migrant Domestic Workers to our society, it said.

The AMCB-IMA HKM reiterated the demands to create jobs back home to address the root cause of migrations so families will no longer be separated, give MDWs a living wage of HK$6,172, regulate the ILO Domestic Workers Convention (ILO C189) to acknowledge domestic workers as equal to any other wage earners with an acceptable minimum standard for working conditions, create clear guidelines in the employment contract on what is suitable accommodation and uphold rights and dignity for all MDWs.

DAB lawmaker urges cap on FDH loans

DAB proposes capping the monthly loan repayment at no more than 30% of the FDW's salary
(File photo) 

A lawmaker from the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong has called on the government to put a limit on the amount of loan that a foreign domestic worker can obtain from financial institutions, ahead of a public consultation on over-borrowing by helpers.

Edward Leung is proposing that the loan should be based on the remaining period of a FDW’s two-year contract, and that the monthly payment for it should not exceed 30 percent of her/his income.

"For example, they have six more months left in their contract, and their monthly income is HK$5,000, then HK$1,500 times six months will be the total amount that they could borrow,” said Leung at a press conference Sunday.

PINDUTIN DITO

This means that a FDH earning the minimum allowable wage, and with six months left in her contract could borrow a maximum of $9,000, or $18,000 for those who still have a year to go. In either case, the monthly repayment should not be more than $1,500.

Leung said many employers and employment agencies that the group had consulted support this proposal.

Apart from legislating the amount that FDWs can borrow from lending companies, the government should also step up publicity and education to better protect employers and the workers, said Leung.

Basahin ang detalye!

The government consultation on FDW borrowings set for the end of June was prompted by complaints from a number of employers that they had been harassed and hounded by collectors for loans obtained by their helpers, or previous helpers.

Leung said the government should also require FDWs to attend a seminar on the issue within eight weeks of their arrival in Hong Kong, to acquaint them about their rights and the city’s laws.

FDWs from the Philippines are required to attend a post-arrival orientation seminar shortly after their arrival in Hong Kong but the dire consequences of over borrowing is just one of the topics on the agenda. 

Excessive borrowing has often been cited as the reason for many of the suicides or criminal entanglements of migrant workers, including thefts and money laundering.