TNAG-2085-FCO40-2970-Allegations-of-ill-treatment-towards-workers-from-the-Philip-1990 — Page 22

མ་མགས་གནང་།

HKB

UNCLASSIFIED

381/1

#ECEIVED IN REGISTRY

0 3 MAY 1990

CER

REGIS

UNCLASSIFIED

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 10093OZ FCO

TELNO 513

OF 100515Z FEBRUARY 90

3

Pa. Law+order

127772

MDHIAN 6287

Q DIST ?

YOUR TELNO 310: ILL TREATMENT OF FILIPINOS IN HONG KONG

1. YOU MAY WISH TO CONSIDER A REPLY ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES:

2. HONG KONG ADMITS FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS FROM A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES, ALTHOUGH THE GREAT MAJORITY IS FROM THE PHILIPPINES. IN APPLYING TO WORK IN HONG KONG, AN APPLICANT HAS TO SUBMIT HIS/HER RECORD OF PAST EXPERIENCE AS A DOMESTIC HELPER. IT IS NOT OUR POLICY OR PRACTICE TO ADMIT HIGHLY EDUCATED OR PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED PEOPLE TO TAKE UP DOMESTIC WORK IN HONG KONG.

3. IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF BOTH EMPLOYERS AND THE DOMESTIC HELPERS, WE REQUIRE BOTH PARTIES TO ENTER INTO A STANDARD CONTRACT WHICH GUARANTEES, INTER ALIA, MINIMUM WAGES, PROVISION OF DECENT ACCOMMODATION, STATUTORY HOLIDAYS, LEAVE AND PASSAGE ALLOWANCES, MEDICAL INSURANCE AND COMPENSATION FOR INJURIES AND TERMINATION OF CONTRACTS BY EITHER PARTY.

4. PROTECTION IS ALSO OFFERED BY THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, THE CONCILIATION SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL. DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS, SOME 1,400 CASES OF CLAIMS ARISING FROM LABOUR DISPUTES WERE DEALT WITH BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

5. IN THE EVENT OF ANY ABUSE OR IN THE EVENT OF ANY FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPER FEELING THAT SHE HAS BEEN ABUSED, SHE CAN SEEK ASSISTANCE THROUGH VARIOUS CHANNELS. IF SHE THINKS THAT THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT HAVE BEEN VIOLATED, SHE CAN APPEAL OR RESORT TO THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT. IF SHE FEELS THAT PHYSICAL ABUSE IS INVOLVED, SHE CAN AND SHOULD REPORT TO THE POLICE. IN ADDITION, ASSISTANCE CAN BE SOUGHT FROM THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE IN HONG KONG, THE MISSION FOR FILIPINO MIGRANT WORKERS, AND VARIOUS CHURCHES.

6. ALTHOUGH NOT ALLOWED TO CHANGE THEIR EMPLOYMENT AT WILL, FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS MAY APPLY TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR CHANGE OF EMPLOYER IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE

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