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Press Release
04 February 2007
For reference:
Dolores Balladares, Chairperson
Tel. No.: (852)
97472986; (852) 31562447
Pinay
maids in HK say POEA ‘exemptions’ are deceitful
Thousands of DHs march to call for total scrapping of POEA
guidelines
“For all the hype of the government on its supposed ‘reforms’ on the POEA
guidelines, careful look would reveal that these are deceptive changes that
only aim to cover up extortion of OFWs that remains at the core of the
guidelines.”
This was declared by Dolores
Balladares of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK) as
thousands of Filipino domestic helpers held a protest action to re-iterate
their demand to totally scrap the POEA guidelines on the deployment of
domestic workers.
Last Friday, February 2, the POEA governing board announced to the media
that current OFWs are ‘exempted’ from the required assessment or training if
they go home for vacation.
According to Balladares, the ‘exemption’ is an illusory respite for current
OFWs.
“We will not be trapped. This is just a ploy to dampen our anger. If our
contracts are terminated or completed and we process new contracts with new
employers, we shall still be treated as new hires and thus covered by the
guidelines,” she remarked.
Additionally, she said that current OFWs will also have to shell out money
because newcomers are also usually their family members and they are the
ones who assist them in the latter’s financial needs for processing their
documents.
They said that only the total scrapping of the guidelines will completely
abolish these new fees for OFWs.
Balladares said that what the government is trying to do is to drive a rift
between new hires and OFWs with existing contracts.
“This is just a bait but we will not bite. We know the burden of paying
the long list of fees of the government and we will not let other OFWs
experience worse,” she added.
The group believed that the government is adamant in pushing the guidelines
because they know that regardless if they now exempt current OFWs, they
still shall earn millions.
Balladares said that they are doubtful of the sincerity and political will
of the government to enforce the US$400 minimum wage and no placement fee
schemes. “If they are indeed for the increase of wage and for the
abolition of placement fee, why package it with new fees?” she asked.
“We challenge the government to make true the wage and placement fee
provisions without the accompanying extortion for the assessment and
training,” she added.
Finally, the group reported that other countries are also now gearing to
campaign against the guidelines. They cited Taiwan and Macau, in particular,
where public forums are being held on the issue.
“Total scrapping of the guidelines is the sentiment of OFWs that the
government must heed,” Balladares concluded.#
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Press Release
06 February 2006
For reference:
Dolores Balladares
Chairperson
Tel. No.: Tel. No.: 97472986, 31562447
HK
ConGen is a master of evasion
Pinay maids hit officials for disregarding majority position on POEA
guidelines
“Like his boss in Malacanang and his cohorts in the DoLE and POEA, Consul
General Al Vicente seems to be a master of evasion when the heat of protest
is before him.
They should face us who carry the burden of their extortionist policies.”
This was declared today by Dolores Balladares following the non-appearance
of the PCG head in two consecutive protest actions of Filipino domestic
workers against the new POEA guidelines.
Last January 28, 6,000 OFWs in Hong Kong held the first protest action
overseas against the guidelines that require domestic helpers to pay for an
assessment or training to obtain additional required certificates before
their deployment abroad.
The next Sunday, February 4, the number of protesters swelled to around
10,000 despite the attempt of the government to curb OFWs’ indignation
through the provision of ‘exemptions’ to the guidelines.
“ConGen Vicente confirmed his attendance to receive petitions to junk the
POEA guidelines. However, not even of a shadow of him appeared to do so,”
Balladares reported.
According to her, ConGen Vicente instead opted to attend a small roundtable
discussion on the said guidelines with a few OFW groups, POEA, TESDA and the
Philippine labor office in HK.
“Is it not the responsbility of the ConGen to face the grievances of
Filipinos abroad? We were insulted by ConGen Vicente’s blatant disregard of
the sentiments of the majority of Filipino domestic workers as expressed by
the 144 organizations and 17 churches who signed the petitions to scrap the
POEA guidelines and the 10,000 protesters who wanted the same,” she
added.
Balladares also said that while they acknowledge that a few OFW groups are
calling for reforms in the guidelines, she urges them to reconsider their
position, align with the stand of the majority and not let themselves be
trapped by the government’s ploy to legitimize extortion of OFWs through the
guidelines.
“Income generation from OFWs is the heart and soul of the guidelines. If
indeed the government is serious in lifting the wage level of domestic
workers and the abolition of placement fee, they should issue separate
orders without the additional burden of more charges to migrant workers,”
she remarked.
The group also urged the House of Representatives, whose Committee on
Overseas Filipino Workers is set to meet today to tackle the guidelines, to
heed the demands of OFWs.
“We appeal to the members of the Congress to address our concern and
prove that they are different from GMA and her loyal subjects in the cabinet
and in Hong Kong,” Balladares stated.
UNIFIL said that they are coordinating with groups in the Philippines such
as MIGRANTE International and the women’s group GABRIELA and their
respective chapters in other countries to further intensify the campaign to
junk the guidelines.
“We are ready to protest again and again until Arroyo, Secretary Brion,
Administrator Baldoz and ConGen Vicente finally succumb to the growing mass
movement against the POEA guidelines,” Balladares concluded.#
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press release in Word format
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A very nervous Vice Consul
Vic Dimaguiba addressed the indignant crowd because of Consul General
Alejandrino Vicente’s failure to fulfill his promise to personally receive
the petition in front of the protesters. |
Bangon Pilipinas Hong Kong
spokesperson explained how the Arroyo government tried to bribe the migrants
with the “exemption” offer and compared it to a kid being offered a candy to
stop crying. |
Mr. Apo Leung, an employer
to several foreign domestic helpers for more than 20 years, delivered his
solidarity message which ended with a message to the Arroyo government to
“leave us alone”.
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A victim of the new POEA guidelines airs
her complaint before the huge crowd
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Cynthia Abdon-Tellez,
Gabriela Women’s Party HK Chapter chairperson addressed the crowd of more
than 10,000 migrants who joined the rally |
A
Jesus is Lord (JIL) pastor called on the HK migrants to continue the
struggle until the new POEA guidelines are totally scrapped. |
The Iglesia Filipina
Independiente (IFI) representative called on to the faithful to oppose this
immoral and inhumane policy of the Arroyo government. |
