HK FDW group hits out at call to freeze their salary

 

AMCB demands a minimum 'living wage' of $6712 for foreign domestic workers

A multi-ethnic group of foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong has blasted at a call made recently by a pro-employer organization to freeze their monthly minimum wage which now stands at $4,990.

The Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB) said in a statement issued Sunday that FDWs should not be used as “scapegoats” for the hardships experienced by employers.

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“The Hong Kong government must address the crisis,” said the AMCB.

Recently, the Quadripartite Alliance for Harmonious Employment Practices staged a protest outside the Labor Department office in Sheung Wan to call for a freeze of the minimum allowable wage set for FDWs, in light of the recent economic downturn, and a spike in the unemployment figure.

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The AMCB is calling for a monthly salary of at least $6,172 which they say is the least that migrant workers and their families need to be able to live more comfortably. If food allowance is provided, this should be at least $3,123 a month.

According to the AMCB reaction, the current MAW of $4,990 is already very low, as FDWs remain excluded from the statutory minimum wage in Hong Kong, even if they, too, are affected by the rising inflation, and spend part of their salary here.

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Apart from the low wages, FDWs also suffer from having to work long hours because they live with their employers, said AMCB.

“If the employers are struggling, they should demand the Hong Kong government to address the unemployment rate, stop the inflation and other fees and expenses like house rent, transportation, etc,” AMCB added.

Hong Kong’s Labour Department is currently conducting its annual review of the MAW, and has sought the opinion of stakeholders, including AMCB and a number of non-government organizations supporting higher wages for FDWs.

 

DMW pushes for higher salary, yearly check-ups for Filipino domestic workers

 

More than 90% of all Filipinos in HK are domestic workers

The Department of Migrant Workers issued an advisory Friday providing for enhanced protection and better opportunities for Filipino domestic workers abroad, which includes raising their monthly minimum wage to USD500 and providing them with annual medical check-ups.

DMW said the domestic workers reform package is anchored to international labor standards on fair and ethical recruitment.

“There are eight components for these domestic workers reforms, which reinforce our commitment to decent work, ethical recruitment, and strengthened welfare mechanisms for Filipino domestic workers deployed abroad,” Migrant Workers Secretary Hans J. Cacdac said

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At the top of the list is the increase in the minimum monthly wage of domestic workers from USD400 to USD500, “in recognition of domestic work as work of equal value deserving of fair compensation." This does not apply to a few host places like Hong Kong, where the minimum wage already equates to about USD643, or roughly Php36,000.

The provision for free annual medical check-up also comes with free hospitalization and treatment, which initially will be implemented on a voluntary basis. The advisory does not, however, spell out how this could be implemented.

The third is the “Know Your Employer” protocol which mandates video conferencing between the domestic worker and employer before their contract is finalized. This aims to ensure transparency and informed consent in the hiring process.

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Fourth is the  “Kumusta Kabayan?” digital welfare monitoring system for direct welfare check on the conditions of OFWs;

Fifth assures the continuous enhancement of workers employability and opportunities through reskilling, upskilling and career mobility program

Sixth mandates stricter standards for recruitment agencies’ accommodation facilities. This follows well-documented stories on the dire conditions in many agency shelters where domestic workers are made to stay prior to deployment, or when they are sacked after taking up work abroad.

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The seventh will institutionalize the whitelisting of recruitment agencies that do not comply with the ethical process in deploying workers

The final change will assure continuous rights protection for domestic workers by providing them with legal and other forms of assistance under the DMW Aksyon Fund.

Secretary Cacdac directed that all employment contracts processed by the DMW should reflect the new wage requirement, while Migrant Workers Offices abroad are encouraged to engage host governments and foreign recruitment agencies on implementing the new wage floor.

He also said that after the DMW advisory was signed today, there will be a 60-day transition period before the first four reforms are fully implemented.

“The advisory shall apply to all recruitment agencies and employers here or abroad with newly hired domestic workers under employment contracts entered into, or with vacationing or returning domestic workers under contracts renewed,” Cacdac said.

DMW said the enhanced protection for Filipino domestic workers abroad was issued after thorough consultation with stakeholders.

The signing coincided with the second death anniversary of former Secretary Susan “Toots” V. Ople who was a staunch advocate of the protection and welfare of Filipino domestic workers.

 

eTravel is still required of travelers to the Philippines

 

eTravel is still required, but its QR code will no longer be checked by customs inspetors 

A blogger’s misunderstanding of a TV news report has confused many overseas Filipino workers and other travelers as to whether eTravel, which records the information of individuals entering and leaving the Philippines, is no longer required.

For the record, eTravel is still required of every traveler entering the Philippines. But only Philippine passport holders must register again with eTravel when they leave the country, and not foreign passport holders.

The only change announced by the Bureau of Customs on Wednesday is that travelers who have cleared immigration and are going through the customs inspection area on exit are no longer required to show the QR code from their eTravel registration before being allowed to get out of the airport.

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Previously, this practice often resulted in long queues as travelers would scramble to find the QR code on their phones or hard copy while pushing heavy luggage carts, just so they could get out.

In the video shared by a blogger named Farhar Ebrahas and shared by many others including a Filipina named Ligaya,” there is a heading that says “Suwerte na nang uuwi, wala ng etravel” Beside it is a photo of the airport, over which a video recorded interview with a spokesman for Customs is played.

But in that video (link is here, https://youtu.be/D-qunUeP0Mk) the Customs spokesman is heard saying: “Pinatanggal na po natin ang pagpe prisinta ng QR code kasi naman po nasa immigration na po ang impormasyon tungkol sa eTravel.”

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(We no longer require the QR code to be presented because the information about eTravel is already with immigration).

What he said, clearly, is that it is the act of presenting the QR code to customs inspectors before exiting the airport that was removed, and not the eTravel itself.

His statement that all the information is already in the eTravel that immigration had seen, negates the story that the exit document is no longer required.

But what appeared to have sparked the confusion was when the interviewer responded with: “Ah, hindi na po ba kailangan? Kahapon pinakita ko pa.” (Oh, so it’s no longer required? Yesterday I still had to present it).

The video was cut at this point, maybe even deliberately, so as to sow confusion – or draw more engagements.

The e-Travel which integrates the traveler’s personal information with the customs and baggage declaration, can be filled out online through https://etravel.gov.ph/ within 72 hours prior to one’s scheduled time of arrival in, or departure from, the Philippines.

All passengers arriving in the Philippines, whatever the nationality, must register on the E-Travel portal. But only departing passengers holding Philippine passports are required to again register to be able to fly out of the country.

Lunar eclipse on Sept. 7 and how to watch it

 

Phases of lunar eclipse

A rare spectacle in the sky in which the moon will be engulfed by the earth’s shadow and turn dark red, will be visible in the southwest horizon of Hong Kong from 11:26 pm on Sept. 7 until dawn the next day, according to the Hong Kong Observatory.

The lunar eclipse, where the moon is shaded by the shadow created when the sun’s rays are blocked by the earth, will start at 11:26pm when the earth’s penumbra (or its outer shadow) touches the moon.

The total eclipse, in which the earth’s umbra (the dark center of its shadow) is cast on the moon, will begin at 1:30 am, peak at 2:12 am and end at 2:53 am.

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During this phase lasting one hour and 23 minutes, the moon will appear dull red. “This is the result of the blue light component of the sunlight being scattered by the earth's atmosphere and the remaining red light being refracted onto the lunar surface,” the Observatory said.

The whole show, from when the edge of the earth’s shadow touches the moon until the last shadow fades, will end at 4:57am.

“The whole event can be directly observed with unaided eyes at places with an unobstructed view to the south and southwest if weather permits,” the Observatory said.

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“​… members of the public can watch the whole event via a webcast webpage (https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/gts/event/webcast-20250907.htm), jointly hosted by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Hong Kong Space Museum, the Ho Koon Nature Education cum Astronomical Centre (sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen), the Po Leung Kuk Ngan Po Ling College and the Creative Education Unit of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups.

The next lunar eclipse observable in Hong Kong will be a total lunar eclipse on March 3, 2026.

DMW Secretary tells OFWs in HK not to moonlight

 

Cacdac says illegal work could lead to an OFW being arrested, detained and deported

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans J. Cacdac has called on overseas Filipino workers to follow the laws in Hong Kong and not to “moonlight” for additional income as this is illegal.

“Masipag ang mga Pilipino, pero ang pagsusumikap ay dapat naaayon sa batas.” Ang pagmo-moonlight o pagtanggap ng sideline ay bawal at maaaring humantong sa pagkakaaresto, pagkakakulong, o deportation”, Cacdac said.

(Filipinos are hardworking, but extra work should only be done in accordance with law. Moonlighting or accepting work on the side is prohibited and could lead to arrest, detention or deportation).

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Part of the interview is here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1J6gMkBbou/

Cacdac issued the call in an interview, a few days after six Filipinas, all domestic workers, were arrested in a subdivided flat in Sham Shui Po while performing alleged illegal dental treatment. Thirteen other Filipina domestic workers were found inside the flat, waiting to be served.

Two of the Filipinas arrested acted as dentists while the four others worked as their assistants.

They said they learned dental works through videos on YouTube, while one told investigators she used to work as a dental assistant in the Philippines.

Cacdac said the six remained in detention while awaiting their court hearing. They will be provided with legal assistance while Overseas Workers Welfare Administration office will check if they need other help.

“Under Hong Kong rules and regulations (they are there) for a specific reason, particularly for specific job categories. So kung kayo po ay skilled worker or domestic worker ayon sa inyong visa o ayon sa Hong Kong rules and regulations, umayon po sa trabaho at huwag na pong mag moonlight o magtrababo ng ano pa man ayon sa visa na iginawad sa inyo.”

(So if you’re a skilled or domestic worker according to your visa or Hong Kong’s rules and regulation, just do your work and don’t moonlight or do any other kind of work apart from what’s stated in your visa).

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The Migrant Workers Office in Hong Kong, which shared the interview with Cacdac, posted its own warning on Facebook, saying: “Huwag po tayong magpadala sa mga alok na “malaki at madaliang kita” kung ang kapalit naman ay ang ating legal status. Tandaan, hindi ito discrimination—batas ito na para sa lahat ng foreign nationals.”

(Do not fall for get-rich-quick schemes as that could lead to you losing your legal status. Remember, this is not discrimination. The same rule applies to all foreign nationals)

 

HK alerted over developing storm east of Luzon

 

Satellite photo from Pagasa shows the LPA (the brightest mass of clouds) east of Luzon 

The Hong Kong Observatory is monitoring a Low Pressure Area (LPA) that has developed more than 400 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora, because of its potential to develop into a cyclone that would cut westwards in the general direction of Hainan.

“The area of low pressure over the seas east of the Philippines will move across Luzon tomorrow. It will move across the central to northern part of the South China Sea and develop gradually over the weekend, in the general direction of the southern part of Hainan Island and the seas south of it,” the Observatory said in its forecast at 11:15 tonight.

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It does not see the developing storm affecting Hong Kong, mainly because it is protected by an anticyclone hovering over the coast of Guangdong, but it expects the cyclone to bring southwest monsoon rains starting Sunday.

So while the weather will remain sunny and hot until Saturday, it is expected to turn rainy by Sunday.

Also affecting the weather is a tropical depression over the East China Sea that intensified this morning into a tropical storm named Lingling while moving east towards Japan.

“At 11 p.m., Lingling was centered about 50 kilometres east of Kagoshima. It is forecast to move east at about 10 kilometres per hour across the vicinity of Kyushu of Japan,” The Observatory said.

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“There are uncertainties in its intensity and movement over the South China Sea. Under the influence of the low pressure system, there will be squally showers and thunderstorms over the northern part of the South China Sea and the coast of Guangdong during the weekend to early next week,” it said.

Overstaying twice gets 97-day jail term for Filipina

 

A Filipina who overstayed twice for a total of more than five years, was sentenced today to 97 days’ imprisonment, or 3 years and one week, after she pleaded guilty at Shatin Court.

Josielyn Tomas, 53 years old, admitted to the two charges of breach of condition of stay, in violation of section 4 of the Immigration Ordinance.

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She admitted overstaying in Hong Kong for four years and two months, from when her visa had expired on Jan. 30, 2019, to when she was arrested on March 12, 2023.

Her second overstaying offence arose after she jumped bail on Sept. 3, 2024 until she was rearrested on May 2, 2025. 

For the first offence, Tomas was sentenced by Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong to 97 days; for the second offence, she got 16 days in prison.

But since Magistrate Cheang ordered that the two sentences run at the same time, the total term is 97 days.

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In a similar but separate case also at Shatin Court, Milagros Comilang was freed on bail of $500 after her case was adjourned by Magistrate Cheang to Nov. 20.

Comilang was charged with overstaying for 14 years, from the expiration of her visa on Oct. 10, 2005 to when she was arrested after being discovered between 9th and 16th of May 2019 to have remained in Hong Kong.

She arrived in Hong Kong as a visitor and received a two-week visa that expired on Oct. 10, 2005.

HK employers’ support group urges freeze of FDW salaries

 

The group calls on the Labour Department and Legco to freeze FDW salaries

A concern group has called on the government to freeze the minimum allowable wage for foreign domestic helpers, saying this would be in line with the current freeze on salaries of civil servants, and the economic pressure faced by most households.

The group Quadripartite Alliance for Harmonious Employment Practices (QAHEP) picketed the Labour Department office in Sheung Wan and submitted a formal petition to legislative council members on Tuesday to push their cause.\

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In an interview, the association’s spokesperson Chrystie Lam pointed out that Hong Kong’s unemployment rate has gone up to 3.5 percent while the economic growth forecasts remain steady at 2 to 3 percent.

This was why the decision to raise the FDWs’ minimum allowable rate to $4990 effective October last year was “contradictory to current policy direction,” said Lam.

She backed this up with findings from a survey of 392 employers which showed that as much as 93 percent of them had problems related to loans. As many as 72 percent claimed they had been harassed by debt collectors.

In some cases, the FDWs used their employer’s address to secure loans, more than a year after taking up employment. Worse, they applied for loans even after they had left their employers’ home.

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The call for the wage freeze came about a week after FDWs picketed the Labour Department to demand a “living” wage of more than $7,000, on top of defining “suitable accommodation” and "adequate food" in their work contracts.

 

 

Pinay jailed 16 weeks for money laundering

 A domestic helper has been sentenced to 16 weeks’ imprisonment for money laundering, while another Filipina has been returned to jail after a similar case filed against her was adjourned today.

Acting Principal Magistrate Cheng Lim-chi jailed Teresita Elpa, 45 years old, on Friday (Aug. 15) after she pleaded guilty to the charge of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offense, a violation of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

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A police complaint had alleged that a total of $165,594.06 which came from crime was deposited and withrawn from her Hang Seng Bank account between March 4 and April 25 2019.

It said Elpa dealt with the property, “knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that (the) property… in whole or in part directly or indirectly represented any person’s proceeds of indictable crime.”

In a separate but similar case at Kwun Tong Court, Acting Principal Magistrate Leung Ka-kie ordered that Cherelle Elle, 38 years old and unemployed, be held in jail while waiting for her next hearing.

Magistrate Leung adjourned the case to Sept. 30.

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Elle is accused of dealing with crime money because of the inflow and outflow of $363,442.58 in her Bank of China account between Aug. 1, 2022 and Jan. 13, 2023.                                    

19 people arrested on Sunday in illegal work raids

 

The 6 Filipinas arrested for illegal dentistry practice were among the 19 rounded up 

Immigration officials have reported the arrest of 19 people at various locations on Sunday, as part of their operations against illegal work.

Those arrested, aged between 19 and 60, included the six Filipino domestic workers who were allegedly running an unlicensed dental clinic in a subdivided flat in Sham Shui Po.

Eight others were arrested on suspicion of working illegally at the restaurants.

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The remaining five suspects are restaurant owners or managers.

Officers said they are not ruling out further arrests as they continue their investigation. 

The Sunday arrests should be reported as part of the weekly updates by Immigration on the result of their continuing crackdown on illegal work.

Those found violating their conditions of stay, like tourists or foreign domestic workers, face a maximum jail term of two months and a fine of $50,000.

If the illegal worker is an overstayer, illegal immigrant or subject to a deportation order, the maximum penalty is a jail term of three years, plus $50,000 fine.

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Employers of illegal workers can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined a maximum of $500,000. Owners and directors of companies that hire illegal workers can be held liable for the offence.

HK Immigration raids illegal dental clinic allegedly run by Filipino DHs

 

Immigration officers usher the 6 fake dentists from their 'dirty' clinic to a waiting van

Six Filipino domestic helpers have been arrested for allegedly providing illegal dental services from a subdivided unit in Sham Shui Po, which immigration officers have described as dirty and unhygienic

The six, all women aged 34 to 60, were providing the unlicensed dental treatments, with two of them acting as “dentists” while the other four served as their assistants.

Thirteen other Filipinos were found inside the makeshift clinic, apparently customers seeking treatment.

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Chief Immigration Office Tai Koon-ho said at a press conference that none of those arrested possesses professional dental qualifications or training.

Some of them claimed to have learned dentistry through online videos, while one said she had worked as a dental assistant in the Philippines.

Yet, they provided dental services such as teeth cleaning, orthodontic treatment and even denture making to fellow FDWs, charging between $150 and $500 per procedure.-

Tai said initial investigations revealed the group operated in their secluded base every Sunday, attracting clients through word-of-mouth endorsements.

Seized in the raid were various instruments for teeth cleaning, braces and denture making.

Officers were appalled at the hygiene conditions in their place of operation, calling them “deplorable.”

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"The so-called surgery room merely contained a sofa, distilled water, tissues, towels, air fresheners, a wash basin and rudimentary surgical instruments.

"When we arrested the so-called dentists, they were wearing ordinary clothes. There was no evidence that their clothing, medical supplies or tools had undergone any sterilisation.

"Medical waste was also discarded haphazardly, posing a significant risk of cross-infection,” said Tai.

 The six are now being held on suspicion of violating their conditions of stay and for practicing dentistry without registration, and are expected to be charged.

 None of their employers were reportedly aware of their illicit activities.

Immigration warns more arrests could follow while they continue their investigation.

OFWs share fears after sharing HKID details with stranger

Filipina who took down the FDWs' HKID numbers is often seen at Exchange Square in Central (Wikipedia photo)

Three newly arrived foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong are now beset with worry, because in a moment of blind trust, they shared their HKID card numbers with a fellow Filipina they met on the street, and who initially offered to broker loans for them.

The three said no to the loan, but did not hesitate to flash out their HKID cards so the woman could take note of their numbers.

But after being told later that this was foolhardy if not dangerous as scammers could use their HKID cards to commit crimes like money laundering, the three became anxious.

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“Nababahala po ako, baka hindi gamitin sa hindi maganda. Hindi na po ako nagtatrabaho ng maayos at gusto ko nang umuwi. Natatakot po ako talaga, first time kong mangibang bansa,” said Dina (not her real name), one of the three who sought help from The SUN. (I am truly worried because my HKID card could be used for something illegal. I can no longer work properly and am thinking of going home. I am really scared, this is my first time to go abroad).

Luckily, her employer understood her predicament, and immediately took her to the police to declare her ID as “lost.”

Told that she could have just told the police the truth and given them the name card of the woman who inappropriately took down their identity numbers, Dina said her employer was the one who advised her that reporting the HKID as lost was the best solution to her dilemma.

“Una po pumunta kami ng police. Nag report kami. Pero mga ilang araw lang gusto ko na talaga umuwi at natatakot akong makulong. Sabi ng amo ko magpa lost ID na lang daw ako.” (First we went to the police to file a report. But after only a few days I wanted to just go home because I’m afraid I would get jailed. My employer said I should just report my HKID card as missing).

Dina has since reported the matter to the Philippine Migrant Workers Office and was relieved when told that she did the right thing by going to the police immediately. 

Both the Philippine Consulate and the MWO have long reminded FDWs not to ever surrender control of their bank accounts or their HKIDs to avoid getting entangled with money laundering syndicates.

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Dina shared the woman’s name card which bore the name of one of the biggest financing companies in Hong Kong, as well as the name “Juliet” and two phone numbers stamped on it.

Told about this, two other Filipinas who are in a group chat of illegal recruitment victims said they had also encountered “Juliet” about two to three years ago and described her as a sweet talker who often hangs out by the carabao statue near the Exchange Square building.

They said that after winning their trust by giving them her name card, she would then get their personal details, including their phone numbers.

“Tawag nang tawag sa akin,” said Cely (not her real name). “May time pa na sinabi sa akin na naka ready na ang pera ko for pickup. Sabi ko, excuse me po di ko need ng pera at ayaw ko ng utang.” (She used to call all the time. There was even one time when she said my loaned money was ready for pick. I replied with, excuse me but I don’t need money and I don’t like loans.”

On hindsight, they realize they should not even have given the woman their phone numbers.

Based on a number of recent cases involving money laundering, this would have been the most prudent way for everyone, especially FDWs, to avoid getting scammed.

As early as December 2023, the MWO had already warned FDWs against lending their HKIDs to avoid falling into the money laundering trap.

That followed the arrests of 14 FDWs who had been tricked into “lending” their HKID cards to people they hardly knew for a measly sum of between $200 and $500. After taking over their identities, syndicate members proceeded to launder millions of dollars using the bank accounts they opened in the helpers’ names.

In all these cases, the FDWs were the ones who were arrested, hauled in court and meted jail terms. The bigger perpetrators – the ones who did the actual money laundering – were not even identified.