‘Blacklist erring HK employers’

Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre

THE Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) is holding talks with the Indonesian consulate general so that employers who are blacklisted by the POLO will also be barred from hiring Indonesian domestic workers.

Labor Attaché Jalilo Dela Torre said he was set to meet with Deputy Consul General Rafail Walangitan of the Indonesian consulate to discuss the proposed sharing of their lists of blacklisted Hong Kong employers.

“So, when (an employer) is blacklisted here (at the POLO), it will also be the same with them (at the Indonesian consulate),” Dela Torre said in an interview.

“I already have a schedule with the Consulate General of Indonesia. I will meet with the Deputy Consul General,” he added.

Dela Torre said the POLO wanted to put an end to the practice of abusive employers hiring Indonesian domestic workers when they are barred from hiring Filipinos.

“They’d say, ‘I’m watch-listed here so I will go to the Indonesians.’ If the employer is abusive, then he or she should be considered abusive by everyone,” Dela Torre said.

“The employer should not be able to insist (on hiring other foreign domestic workers),” he added.

Dela Torre said the initial feedback from the Indonesian consulate general was favorable.

“They’re very eager. I think they might adopt our Employ Easy system, which allows the online submission of contracts by agencies,” he said.

“So, it would be faster. If the employer is blacklisted here, she would also be blacklisted there. It will be done online and fast,” he said.

However, Dela Torre said the POLO would also have to consult with lawyers to determine how the plan could avoid violating Hong Kong’s strict privacy law, which prohibits the sharing of personal data without the consent of the person involved.

“We will consult with some solicitors just to make sure the privacy issues are resolved,” Dela Torre said.

As of late July this year, the POLO had put on its watch list nearly 5,000 employers.