Pinoy maids in Hong Kong assured of protection

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday assured Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong of protection amid reports that they are forced to render services against their will.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the DOLE and other government agencies are implementing measures to ensure the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong and other countries.

“The presence of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and diplomatic and consular missions overseas mandated to provide services to OFWs and ensure that OFWs, especially household service workers, are protected from risks associated with forced labor,” Baldoz said.

Since the Philippines has ratified the ILO Core Conventions on Forced Labor, Baldoz said the DOLE and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) make sure that stakeholders in the recruitment and employment sector adhere to measures that prevent forced labor.

“Various procedural mechanisms applied by the POEA in scrutinizing and standardizing the provisions of employment contracts of migrant workers and in holding accountable employers and agencies that commit recruitment violations and violations of employment contracts, make sure that migrant workers are informed of their conditions of employment overseas through the stages of the migration cycle, from pre-employment to pre-departure,” Baldoz said.

She added relevant information about the OFWs’ working conditions are enhanced by post-arrival orientation sessions (PAOS).

Baldoz said the POEA board has made the PAOS mandatory for all OFWs.

The POEA also observes the so-called “one strike” policy where recruitment and foreign employers are immediately banned from employing OFWs after they have committed violations.

Baldoz admitted there are some OFWs trapped by debt, but the government is exerting efforts to address the problem.

She said human trafficking is an offense both in the Philippines and Hong Kong.

The Philippine and Hong Kong governments are closely working to review existing legislation to enhance protection of migrant workers, Baldoz said.

She said the Philippines and Hong Kong are set to negotiate a bilateral labor cooperation agreement to protect OFWs. –Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)