Employer fires FDH over multi-level marketing

Filipino domestic workers in Central

THIS should serve as a cautionary tale for Filipino domestic helpers wanting to earn extra money from sidelines.

A Filipino domestic helper was fired by her employer and sent home by the Hong Kong Immigration Department after she was found to be seeking recruits for a multi-level marketing company.

“Nakita ng employer niya ang laptop niya na nag-rerecruit siya. Tinanggal siya sa trabaho tapos sinumbong siya sa Immigration Department,” Attache Hermogenes Cayabyab Jr. told Hong Kong News.

He said the employer told him that they did not want to be involved should the domestic helper run into some trouble because of her recruitment activities.

“Sabi sa akin ng domestic worker, na nasa Manila pa miyembro na siya ng company na ‘yun. Itutuloy niya lang daw dito. May produkto namang binebenta iyong kumpanya, pero ayaw lang daw ma-involve ng employer,” Cayabyab said.

After being terminated by the employer, the domestic helper, an Ilocano in her early 40s, stayed in a shelter.

On October 10, the Immigration Department, which was investigating her for possible breach of condition of stay, ordered her removal from the city and sent her back to the Philippines.

“Halos isang taon lang siya sa amo niya at iyon ang unang kontrata niya dito sa Hong Kong,” Cayabyab said.

In February, some 20 Filipino domestic helpers complained that they were duped into investing in Emgoldex, which turned out to be a spurious investment scheme.

Nearly 500 Filipinos in Hong Kong as well as their kin allegedly invested at least P36,000 for a single account in the scheme.

Recruiters promised that their investments would earn profits of between P180,000 and P360,000.

However, the Philippines’ Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) eventually sued Emgoldex, Global Intergold, and Prosperous Infinite Philippines Holdings Corp. for selling securities without a license.