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)
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
July
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
5 July – World Youth Skills Day
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day
17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
