Filipino workers in Hong Kong (HK) are up in arms against a new fee increase to be imposed by the Philippine Consulate in the Chinese territory starting Sunday, March 1.
On Sunday, March 1, the verification fee for Filipino workers entering into a new contract will increase by a whopping 400%, from HK$80 to HK$320 (AED150).
“Thievery,” the group United Filipinos in Hong Kong (Unifil-HK) said of the increase, calling it unreasonable as the OFWs gain nothing for the hefty fee hike.
The fee covers the verification of employment contracts for new hires, recontracts, or transfers to a new employer.
The Philippine Consulate General said the verification process basically ensures that the contract is in compliance with labor and immigration laws of Hong Kong.
There are approximately 190,000 to over 200,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in HK, primarily employed as foreign domestic helpers.
OFWs represent about 55-57% of the total foreign domestic helper population in the territory, who totals around 330,000 to 374,000 individuals.
‘Plain extortion’
Unifil-HK however said the Migrant Workers Office-HK has a poor service record and has no real justification on imposing “another burden on OFWs.”
“It is clear as day that this is yet another form of extortion.
The Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government has no respect for treating OFWs as a business instead of providing proper protection and improving services to OFWs,” Unifil-HK leader Dolores Balladares said.
“It is as if salt has been poured on our wounds, especially since all those involved in the serious corruption in the country have not yet been held accountable,” she added.
Unifil-HK said it will not remain silent about the new “extortion,” vowing to hold protest actions until the fee hike is scrapped.
The group urged Philippine Consulate officials to think of ways to improve their service to migrant Filipino workers, rather than devising schemes to collect additional funds. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)