XN000022-1987-04-24 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 1987

COVERNMENT POSITION ON FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELFERS CLARIFIED

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COMMENTING ON AN ARTICLE CONCERNING GOVERNMENT EASING CURBS OVER MAIDS WHICH APPEARED IN TODAY'S (FRIDAY) PRESS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION IS PREPARED TO ALLOW FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS WHOSE CONTRACTS EXPIRED A FEW WEEKS BEFORE LAST WEEK'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE REVISED CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT, TO EXTEND THEIR STAY FOR A SHORT WHILE BEYOND THE PERIOD SPECIFIED IN THE IR VISAS.

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL CONSIDER ATTESTING NEW CONTRACTS SUBMITTED BY THESE FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS IF THE PREVIOUS ONES HAVE RUN THEIR COURSE. AS REGARDS THOSE WHO HAVE BROKEN THE IR PREVIOUS CONTRACTS, IN PRINCIPLE, NEW CONTRACTS WILL NOT BE ATTESTED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT BEFORE THE HELPERS LEAVE THE TERRITORY.

THE SPOKESMAN CONFIRMED THAT THE CONSUL-GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINES HAD REQUESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD RECONSIDER REVISING ITS PROCEDURES FOR THOSE FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS WHO HAVE BROKEN THEIR CONTRACTS, IN PARTICULAR THAT THEY BE ALLOWED TO HAVE A NEW CONTRACT ATTESTED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT BEFORE THEY RETURNED TO MANILA. BUT THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT WHILE THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION HAD NOTED THE REQUEST, NO DECISION HAS YET BEEN TAKEN.

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SURVEYS TO BE CONDUCTED ON ASBESTOS IN BUILDINGS

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THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT IS PREPARING TO ENGAGE A PRIVATE CONSULTANT TO CONDUCT A SURVEY TO LOOK INTO THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM OF ASBESTOS PRODUCTS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO GOVERNMENT ON STEPS TO BE TAKEN, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (AIR AND NOISE) OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, MR ROBERT LAW, TOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE SURVEY WAS EXPECTED TO COMMENCE THIS YEAR AND TAKE 12 MONTHS TO COMPLETE, MR LAW SAID.

HOWEVER, AT THE SAME MEETING THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE LANDS AND WORKS BRANCH, MR HUGH PHILLIPSON, SAID ASBESTOS PRODUCTS, WHICH MIGHT BE FOUND IN EXISTING PRIVATE BUILDINGS, POSED NO HEALTH PROBLEM PROVIDED THEY ARE IN GOOD CONDITION AND UNDISTURBED.

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