‘No drop in deployment of maids to HK’

MANILA, Philippines - At least a hundred Filipino domestic helpers are being hired in Hong Kong every day despite the moratorium on the deployment of household service workers (HSWs) by a group of local recruitment agencies.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) still processes around a hundred employment contracts of newly hired and rehired workers every day.

“The POLO still processes the same number of contracts prior to the moratorium and until now,” Baldoz noted.

POLO reports showed that many Filipino HSWs opt to renew their employment rather than return home after finishing their contracts.

“There are more re-hires as a result of the moratorium, but there is no problem with that as long as their employers are treating them well and paying the right wages,” Baldoz said.

Last February, the Society of Hong Kong Accredited Recruiters of the Philippines declared a moratorium on the deployment of HSWs to protest the government’s no placement fee policy.

The group said they are willing to lift the moratorium if their counterparts in Hong Kong would agree on the no placement fee policy.

The group said the moratorium could result in 35,000 Filipino domestic workers losing their jobs.

Baldoz said she has ordered the POEA to study and reassess Hong Kong as a market for Filipino domestic helpers.

“We will come out with the appropriate action on the reported overcharging of fees after the reassessment,” Baldoz said.