PH Consul General Gives Talk to Newly-Arrived Domestic Workers in HK

Consul General Antonio A. Morales gives a talk to newly-arrived Filipino household service workers during the Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar held at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Wan Chai, Hong Kong. (Hong Kong PCG photo)

HONG KONG 02 August 2018 – Consul General Antonio A. Morales gave a talk at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Wan Chai, during the Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) for newly-arrived Filipino household service workers (HSWs) on 20 July 2018.

During the 40-minute talk, Consul General Morales presented the Consulate’s various services including passport processing, notarization of documents, civil registry and legal advice, cultural and economic diplomacy, and Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN).

He also emphasized that OFWs in Hong Kong should know their rights and responsibilities as foreign workers. As such, the Consul General called their attention on various problems encountered by OFWs such as using passports as collateral for loans, investment scams, drug trafficking, and violation of employment contracts.

Consul General Morales assured the attendees that the Consulate is committed to protecting the rights and promoting the welfare of OFWs in Hong Kong. He stressed that the Consulate is ready to help Filipinos in distress, and provided them the Consulate’s emergency contact numbers.

More importantly, he encouraged them to make their stay in Hong Kong worthwhile by taking advantage of the capacity-building programs offered by the Consulate with other partner agencies and non-government organizations, especially on financial literacy and health and wellness, to prepare them for their eventual return to the Philippines to be with their families and loved ones. 

Forty-five newly-arrived HSWs attended the PAOS session. The Consulate conducts mandatory PAOS sessions daily from Monday to Thursday at the POLO, with an average of 200-250 attendees per week.

Also included in the session are briefings from the Hong Kong Labour Department, Social Security System, Pag-IBIG Fund, and other partner entities.

Hong Kong is also home to more than 206,000 Filipino HSWs, comprising a lion’s share of 370,000 foreign domestic workers in the city. END

Forty-five newly arrived Filipino household service workers (HSWs) attend the Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) held at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Wan Chai, Hong Kong on 23 July 2018. Aside from the talk by Consul General Antonio A. Morales on the Philippine Consulate General’s services, included in the session are briefings from the Hong Kong Labour Department, Social Security System, Pag-IBIG Fund, and other partner entities. POLO conducts mandatory PAOS sessions daily from Monday to Thursday with an average of 200-250 attendees per week. (Hong Kong PCG photo)

For more information, visit www.hongkongpcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinHK/