Recruiters: Fewer Pinays applying for FDH jobs

Protesters in Central

Fewer Filipinos are applying to become domestic workers in Hong Kong due to the anti-government protests in the city, according to recruitment industry leader in Manila.

Alfredo Palmiery, president of Sharp (Society of Hong Kong Accredited Recruiters of the Philippines), said the demand for Filipino domestic helpers and their deployment to HK remained strong but recruiters noticed a decrease of “five to 10 percent” in the number of Filipino applicants.

“Mga five to 10 percent ang ibinaba. Naramdaman namin yan since two months ago at epekto ng mga balitang gulo dyan,” Palmiery said.

“Yung demand ganun pa rin pero karamihan nga ng hiring yung nandyan na o yung recommended ng mga nandyan na—mga kamag-anak o kaibigan,” he added.

Welfare Attache Marivic Clarin said that, so far, the protests have had a “negligible effect” on the deployment of Filipino domestic workers in HK.

She said the demand for Filipino domestic workers remained robust amid concerns of an economic downturn brought about by the protests.

“The effect has been minimal. May 150 na nagreregister every day para sa PAOS (Post Arrival Orientation Seminar),” she said.

Clarin said that workers who lost their jobs because their employers permanently left Hong Kong due to the protests can stay here while looking for new employers.

“Kaunti lang sila at puwede naman sila lumipat dahil considered severance yung nangyari. So, puwede silang lumipat without going back to the Philippines,” Clarin said in an interview.

“Basta kung ang rason ay relocation or death ng employer, or financial reason, si worker, regardless of length of stay sa kanyang dating boss, puwede siya lumipat ng employer without going through an agency. So, wala siyang babayaran,” she said.

Clarin said the worker should just go to the Immigration Department and obtain an ID522 form and set an interview.

“Kung may kontrata na siya, i-process na sa POLO para mabilis na,” she added.