A Filipina domestic helper was found dead on Feb.2 in her employer’s residence in Yuen Long, with law enforcers saying initial information showing it to be a possible case of suicide. “We received a call at 9:20 am on Feb.2 from a 58-year old woman, her employer. She found her domestic helper insider her room. She was found dead due to suspe...
Two Filipina domestic helpers chose to terminate their respective contracts after their employers allegedly prohibited them from going out on their rest days, preventing them from attending worship services. Sources from the Philippine Labor Overseas Office told Hong Kong News on Feb.10 that the domestic helpers, both members of the Christian re...
Recruitment agencies asked the labor department in the Philippines to allow thousands of Filipina domestic helpers affected by the travel ban to fly to Hong Kong, saying that they will make sure safety precautions will be taken by the employers, including providing domestic helpers face masks. Alfred Palmiery, president of the Society of Hong Ko...
The Health Department confirmed on Feb.5,2020 that a second Filipina domestic helper has been quarantined after her employer tested positive for the novel coronavirus (2019-nCov). According to the Philippine Consulate General, however, she remains healthy and does not have symptoms of the illness, which has infected at least 17 people in Hong Ko...
Hong Kong's Labour and Welfare Sec. Law Chi-Kwong asked the Philippine government on Feb.4, 2020 to reconsider its decision to prohibit overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from returning to Hong Kong, a measure that was ostensibly set in place to prevent Filipinos from being infected with the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Law made this appeal in a...
Two Filipina domestic helpers who were left behind in mainland China – while their employer has ostensibly already gone back to Hong Kong – will be able to return to the special administrative region on Jan.30, 2020, even as the city implements a partial shutdown of some of its borders with the mainland today. Chief executive Carrie Lam has ...
A Filipina who worked as a domestic helper in Hong Kong in 2019 was convicted of child abuse on Jan.13, 2020 after she injured her employer’s child using a flat iron. The Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts sentenced Kristine Aguirre Lising to 16 months of imprisonment after she was found guilty of burning the chest of a 22-month old child using an...
Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong born within the period of 1957-1959 has until Feb.17,2020 to apply for new Smart identity cards. The Immigration Department has started the seventh phase of its Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise on Nov 16, 2019, which will continue until Feb.17 this year. OFWs should book an appoin...
A new year ushers in increased contributions to the national health insurance program for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Starting 2020, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) will increase the premium rate of direct contributors, which include OFWs, from 2.75 percent of their monthly salary to 3 percent. For OFWs earning P20,...
Amid continuing reports of Filipina domestic helpers suffering from depression and committing suicide, the Department of Social Welfare and Development plans to form groups of volunteers in Hong Kong which will help overseas Filipino workers cope with emotional distress as well as address mental health problems. Social welfare attache Elizabet...