The SUN HK

2 Pinays among 4 injured in Kowloon car crash

Posted on 28 March 2019 No comments

Police investigate at the scene of the car carsh.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Two Filipinas were among four people injured in a car crash that in Kowloon City around 2:30pm on Tuesday, Mar. 26, police said.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Google photo)

A police spokeswoman told The SUN that the two Filipinas, aged 39 and 40, and the two other victims were sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yaumatei in conscious state.

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The officer could not confirm if the Filipino casualties are domestic workers, saying she could not give further details.

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The two other crash victims were a 31-year-old local man who was driving a black car and an 81-year-old woman, she said.

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Another police spokesman told local media that a black Tesla was cruising along Princess Margaret Road towards Tsimshatsui when it was hit by a silver Mercedes-Benz car coming from Mongkok at the junction of Argyle St.

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The Tesla driver was thrown out of his car on impact. The vehicle then mounted the pavement and hit three pedestrians before it was stopped by a concrete corner wall.

The spokeswoman said an investigation was ongoing but no arrest was made.

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Migrant group protests mandatory SSS, insurance for OFWs

Posted on 27 March 2019 No comments

Vicky Casia of Migrante explains explains her group's stand.

By Daisy CL Mandap

A group of Filipino migrant workers staged a protest outside the Philippine Consulate offices on Mar 21 ahead of the implementation of a new law that requires all overseas Filipino workers to pay for SSS contributions.

The protesters, led by United Filipinos in Hong Kong (Unifil-Migrante) said the forced SSS contribution, pegged at a maximum of Php2,400 (HK$356) per month, would impose an additional burden on OFWs struggling to make ends meet.

Unifil chair Dolores Balladares-Pelaez said that if the Social Security System is worried about depleting its fund because of the recent increase of Php1,000 to members’ monthly pensions, it should just step up its collection instead of burdening migrant workers.

“Noong isang taon (2017) Php13 billion ang hindi nakolekta sa mga employer, bakit hindi sila ang habulin?”, asked Balladares-Pelaez.

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She also said SSS should stop paying fat allowances to its officers. ssReports published previously showed that SSS executives had each been paid between Php1.6 million to Php5million a year in salaries and allowances.

“Bakit tayo ang magpapasan sa korapsyon sa SSS?” she asked.

SSS representative in Hong Kong, John Lester Mata, said the fear that the monthly contribution would cause a heavy burden on OFWs, especially the new arrivals, may be unfounded.

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Under the proposed implementing rules and regulations of SSS Act of 2018, he said an OFW departing from the Philippines for the first time will be charged only a month’s contribution, and it need not be the maximum Php2,400, but only the Php960 minimum.

But OFWs renewing their contracts could be charged three months’ worth of contributions.

Previously, the minimum contribution was Php550 and the maximum was Php1,760.

He said the forced contribution could be implemented sometime next month, after the SSS conducts an internal consultation meeting.

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During this time, a memorandum of agreement among SSS, the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Foreign Affairs would be signed to ensure the enforcement of mandatory contribution of OFWs.

Asked what assurance he could give to OFWs about the benefits of paying their SSS contributions, Mata said, “As we have said before, wala namang benepisyo na hindi binabayaran ang SSS.”

Mata also reiterated that if revenues are not boosted soon, the SSS fund could be depleted by the year 2027. But with the new measures including mandatory OFW and higher contributions, the fund could be kept intact until 2045.

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Meanwhile, the protesters also hit out at a resolution surreptitiously passed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Board on Aug 28 last year, mandating all OFWs to pay for life and medical insurance.

The implementing rules for the POEA resolution have yet to be issued, although Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre confirmed its existence at a public forum last November.

If implemented, each land-based OFW would have to shell out an extra US$144, or HK$1,200 for every two-year contract.

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Balladares-Pelaez said mandatory insurance is not necessary, especially for Filipino workers in Hong Kong, because their employers are already obliged under the law to take out insurance on them to cover any untoward incident.

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Labatt Jolly dela Torre's heartfelt thanks to migrants rights advocates in HK

Posted on 26 March 2019 No comments

MESSAGE AT HONORING CEREMONY

(This message was delivered by Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre at Linklaters in Alexandra House, Central on 25 March 2019, in response to a series of farewell tributes to him by government officials, migrant leaders, human rights lawyers and NGO staff)

Labatt Jolly being introduced by emcee Alan Bell

Thank you all for coming tonight. I feel quite honored, and grateful. It’s not often that diplomatic officials are honored this way, and I feel special. In fact, before coming up to the rostrum, I had to pinch myself to make sure this is really happening. And it is happening. It’s surreal, and I should tell you this would not be possible at all if Emily Lau had not thought about it, and thank you, too, Allan Bell, for your organizing skills and to both your friendships. Looks like the Filipino community, and the people who care for them, are well represented here tonight. Looking around, I see a good number of people, and that if I will have as many good and decent people at my funeral, I think I’d be a happy man. But not yet. Not yet.

When I reported here for the second time in 2016, the first time being in 1998, I wondered how long it would take me to introduce meaningful changes into the system that was essentially stacked against our workers, changes which could somehow make the lives of our workers a little bit better and a little bit safer. I wondered, how long would it take for somebody in my position to keep pushing for reforms, and eventually consider his tour of duty a success? And I realized, what I was really asking was, how long is a piece of string? Because there is no expiration date on the need for reforms. There is no deadline for social change. It’s a never-ending and sometimes thankless task.

Caring for and fighting for our workers’ rights and welfare here in Hong Kong is never easy, as many of you present in this room tonight can attest. The numbers are simply overpowering, the issues intractable, the adversaries strong. But there is comfort from the fact that many people like yourselves are pushing the boulders blocking the way. Our combined strength will someday make the difference. Therefore, we should never give up. Because along the way, there are little triumphs, little victories and big lessons, which make the fight worth waging. Our small victories against window cleaning, against human trafficking, against rogue agencies and abusive employers—these were worth fighting for, and I can only express my gratitude to the whole community for their helping hands.

There are still plenty of items on the reform agenda: 1. Working hours; 2. Suitable accommodations; 3. Food. Very basic issues which I would have thought we never have to fight for, but we do, and it is sad that we have to. I would have wanted to stay longer to fight a little bit longer. But there are things in this world that are simply not for the wishing.

The matter of the poor health of many ofour workers should not be treated as an isolated issue. It has to be understood in the context of their poor working conditions. Our workers fall ill and some of them die, not primarily through lack of medical attention, but perhaps because of their working conditions. In 2018 alone, we lost 61 Filipinos in Hong Kong, and 75% of those deaths were due to illness. There has to be a way out of this—either through mandatory health check-ups that even the Indonesian Consulate General has seen fit to require, or stronger enforcement of the contractual and statutory working conditions of 350,000 foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong. Our Project Health Wise has uncovered the fact that far too many of our workers are either diabetic or hypertensive, higher than our national average in both respects. But I suppose that would be for the next LabourAttache to fight for, assuming he or she has the stomach and the commitment. I can tell him though that he’s definitely got his work cut out for him.

I therefore say goodbye to Hong Kong, comfortable with the thought that I have given my best shot, and in the process gained so many friends. I’m sorry I couldn’t mention all your names, but I couldn’t have survived Hong Kong without your help.I could’ve done more. We could’ve done more together, but I ran out of time. Unlike the issues we fight for, my tour of duty in Hong Kong has expired. It has been a pleasure knowing all of you, and thank you all for your help, your friendship, even your criticism. I will always remember all of you, and may you all keep the fires in your hearts burning. Hong Kong would be a great place to live and work: we just need to make sure that it becomes also a great place to live and work for our migrant workers. I know that all of you here are fighters and advocates for our workers’ welfare, and together you can really move things along. Good luck to all of you.

Dole issues recall order for Labatt Jolly; Filcom says, ‘not yet’

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By Daisy CL Mandap

Never say die. That seems to be the prevailing sentiment of Filipino community leaders when it comes to letting go of Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre, who has just been issued a recall order by his bosses in Manila.

Just a day after the recall order was issued on Mar 15, Filcom leaders started circulating a letter asking that he be retained as the country’s top labor official in Hong Kong.

This was despite a farewell party for Labatt Dela Torre held on Mar 25, hosted by former Hong Kong legislator Emily Lau and human rights lawyer Alan Bell.

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The petition letter dated Mar 16 states that while Labatt Dela Torre’s regular three-year term is set to end this month, his recall from April to October last year “due to unfounded allegations” should not be counted as part of this period.

“Labatt Jolly has done his job exceedingly well that he enjoys wide support in the Filipino community in Hong Kong. As a topnotch lawyer, seasoned labor official and veteran administrator he is much more than we can expect from a labor attaché,” said the petition.

Dela Torre was cited for, among several things, getting the ban on dangerous window cleaning inserted into the standard employment contract of migrant workers, and cracking down on the illegal deployment of OFWs to third countries, particularly Russia and Turkey.

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The petition also took note of his Project HealthWise, where OFWs are given free medical check-ups so those who are shown to have serious health issues can seek doctor’s help immediately.

Among the first to sign the petition were about 100 OFWs who availed of the first medical outreach of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Taipo on Mar 17.

Dela Torre himself led the outreach program, and helped issue overseas employment certificates to those planning to go on vacation in the Philippines in the next few months.

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Active parish member Rodelia P. Villar, who is also the founder of the online group Domestic Workers’ Corner, urged the OFWs queuing up for service to sign the petition, after extolling the labor attaché’s good deeds.

As of this writing, about 5,000 have already signed the petition, including Lau, Bell, church leaders and migrants.

Several other big groups like the Global Alliance, United Filipinos in Hong Kong, Mindanao Federation, Global Ministers Association, National Organization of Professional Teachers, Filipino Nurses Association, and the Integrated Midwives Association, also support the call to retain the labor official.

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Dela Torre was recalled in mid-April on orders of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who only hinted at various allegations against him, like his supposed favoritism in dealing with employment agencies, and acting beyond his powers in issuing overseas employment certificates to Filipino workers in China.

But no clear reason emerged from the recall, and Dela Torre was sent back to his post after six months in the Philippines.

The revocation of his recall came in large part to the wide opposition from community leaders, who sought help from politicians to get Bello to send the highly popular labor envoy back to his post.

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Judge reserves judgment on theft case vs Filipino tourists

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District Court

By Vir B. Lumicao

A District Court judge will decide on Apr 30 on the case of five Filipino tourists charged in connection with a botched pickpocketing incident in the MTR station in Central nearly a year ago.

Judge David Dufton made the announcement after listening to the lawyers’ submissions on the case on Mar 25.

Defendants Zenaida Aviles, Rasim Linambos, Arlene Gerodias, Manuelito Camacho and Delia Tagalo were arrested on suspicion of trying to pick the wallet of a Korean female tourist while on a train from Admiralty to Central on Apr 24 last year.

They have been in detention since their arrest.

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Their trial, which began on Feb 11, was supposed to finish in five days, but it was stretched for another day as barrister Andrew Raffell, the defense lawyer representing Aviles, insisted police had not positively identified the defendant.

But according to prosecutor Bina Sujanani, the five defendants knew each other and had tried to carry out the theft in April last year. An undercover police officer noticed them going up and down the escalators in the MTR station in Wanchai and alerted nine other officers.

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The suspects then reportedly went out of the station and boarded a tram to Central. They got off at the Bank Street stop and walked towards World-Wide House looking for a target, unaware that the police were following them.

The group walked to the MTR Central station, where they spotted a Korean woman with a backpack who was with a male companion.

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The officer shadowing the defendants said they sandwiched the pair down the escalator to the Tsuen Wan trains with Gerodias and Camacho ahead of the target and Aviles directly behind her, screened by Linambos and Tagalo.

Gerodias and Camacho reportedly blocked the woman near the bottom of the escalator while Aviles unzipped her backpack and pulled out her wallet but found it chained to the bag, so she dropped it.

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At that juncture, the officer identified himself and radioed his colleagues. The defendants scattered and boarded the departing Tsuen Wan train. The officer followed Aviles into the train and arrested her while the other officers pounced on the rest of the suspects in Admiralty station.

Raffell, in his submission, said Aviles was the wrong woman as the officer on the escalator had only identified her by her hair. He also asked where were the “two unknown passengers” who the officer said saw Camacho and Gerodias block the target.

Barrister Maurice Peter Tracy, for Linambos, said there was no attempted theft at all and that the suspects were plain tourists.

Another barrister, Sean Kelly, said the evidence against his client was not solid as the officer on the escalator did not see Gerodias on the escalator.

He challenged the identification of his client as one of the suspects and dismissed the prosecution’s claim that the alleged offense was a joint enterprise.

The lawyers of defendants Camacho and Tagalo did not make any submission.

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