Editor's Note |
20 years of service to the community
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Time flies.
Exactly 20 years ago this month, The SUN shone for the Filipinos in Hong Kong. It was
the fulfillment of a dream that took shape years earlier, or shortly after I arrived here in 1987 and
realized there was no reliable information channel serving the community.
But turning that dream into reality proved to be difficult. Several people offered to fund
the publication of a news-paper, but everyone wanted a business model different from what we had
in mind.
Details...
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Anak Araw |
Pagpapabaya
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Nitong nakaraang buwan ay naging saksi tayo sa nangyari kay Manang Gloria Ortinez,
ang OFW na biktima ng tanim-bala sa Manila airport. Halos buong araw kasi ay naglagi siya sa
opisina ng The SUN, kasama ang mga naghatid sa kanya na sina Susan "Toots" Ople na tagataguyod ng
mga OFW, at ang abogado niyang si Atty Spocky Farolan, kaya nasaksihan namin siya nang malapitan.
Details...
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Migrant's Forum |
Nanay Gloria's journey to HK
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President Benigno Simeon Aquino III recently told the media that cases of tanim-bala
were sensationalized, citing figures to prove his point. As an OFW advocate, I respectfully
disagree. Looking at this from a purely numbers perspective could lead one to overlook the deep trauma
that such incidents have caused its innocent victims.
Had he met and spoken to 56-year old OFW Gloria Ortinez, our President would have
learned the following:
Details...
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Know Your Rights |
The Mission
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This was the speech delivered by the Mission for Migrant Workers' general manager,
Cynthia Tellez, at the launch of the 10-year Impact Evaluation Report of the Mission's work held on
December 5, 2015 at the Li Hall of St. John's Cathedral.
Details...
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With at least one -- and possibly two disqualification cases in the presidential race --
the Supreme Court has assured the nation politics will not dictate its decisions.
See this month's stories...
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Staff and volunteers at the Mission for Migrant Workers had reason to celebrate when
they launched the non-government organization's 10-year Impact Evaluation Report at Li Hall of St
John's Cathedral on Dec. 4. Nearly all, or 97% of migrants who sought assistance said that they were
helped by the Mission, and more than half of them (57%) said they would recommend the NGO to others.
See this month's stories...
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September 2014
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Hong Kong News
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The Philippine Overseas Employment
Administration (POEA) opened a hearing on Aug. 27
on the case filed by 10 Filipino domestic workers in Hong
Kong against their recruitment agencies
for alleged illegal collection of placement fees.
Named respondents in the case are Findstaff
Employment Services Incorporated, which
has offices in Ermita, Manila and its Hong Kong based
counterpart, Satisfactory Employment and
Travel Centre Limited.
The hearing got underway as some of the
complainants reported being visited by
Findstaff employees at their houses in the Philippines to offer
"financial assistance".
One of those approached told The SUN via a
phone interview that the Findstaff
representative even hinted of a threat if the offer was not
accepted.
Bishop Gerry Vallo who has been helping the
complainants and was among those asked to
give testimony at the POEA hearing, verified the information
He also said that thankfully, not one of those who
were approached yielded to the offer.
In Hong Kong, meanwhile, the Employment
Agencies Administration called the employers
of at least two Filipina domestic workers who were reportedly
sued by Satisfactory at the Small
Claims Tribunal for alleged non-payment of placement fees.
The employers were reportedly among a group
sued by Satisfactory to pressure them
into terminating their Filipino workers who had all filed
claims against the agency for illegal fee
collection.
Satisfactory had reportedly claimed that it was
forced to go after the workers because
their employers refused to pay the agreed recruitment fee.
The EAA also reportedly called Satisfactory's
registered owner, Vivian Ho, to shed light on
the suit.
Contacted by The SUN earlier, an investigating
officer at EAA said the initial complaint
against Satisfactory had already been forwarded to Hong
Kong's Justice Department for the possible
filing of charges.
Satisfactory has reportedly shut its office in Tai
Wai in the meantime, after POEA placed it
and Findstaff under preventive suspension effective Aug. 4.
In the order signed by POEA Administrator Hans
Cacdac, the two agencies were also told
to explain why they should not be further penalized for
violating the no-placement fee policy of
the Philippine government.
Under the POEA Guidelines of 2006, all
Filipinos deployed as HSWs or household
service workers abroad are not supposed to pay any
placement fee.
POEA's order was said to be based on initial
findings that Satisfactory did charge a
$21,000 placement fee on its newly arrived Filipino recruits.
The fee was supposed to be collected over
seven months, at the rate of $3,000 per month.
This was apart from the agency fees of about
$8,000 to $9,000 that Satisfactory charged
their employers.
The initial finding showed that Findstaff had
known about the illegal collection. A staff
member named as Rodel Barcela was found to have told the
Filipino workers about the arrangement prior
to their departure to Hong Kong.
If found guilty of the alleged violation, Findstaff's
recruitment licence could be cancelled,
and Satisfactory's accreditation revoked.
This could also lead to the two agencies, along
with Findstaff's insurer, Country
Bankers Insurance Corporation, being ordered to compensate
the complainants.
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