News Release 8 July 2013 1st Quarter 2013 Statistics of Cases Out MFMW takes on unprecedented number of cases of illegal recruitment An NGO in Hong Kong providing support services to migrant workers in distress today reported an alarming increase in the number of recruitment agency-related cases among foreign domestic workers (FDWs) In the summary of cases handled for the first quarter of the year, the Mission for Migrant Workers (MFMW) said that illegal collection of fees and overcharging by recruitment agencies emerged as the biggest burden of migrant workers in Hong Kong. Out of 364 cases reported from January to March, 65% or 259 complained of illegal collection of fees from recruitment agencies both in Hong Kong and from the countries of origin of foreign domestic workers, mainly from the Philippines and Indonesia,” reported Cynthia CA Tellez, general manager of the MFMW. An overwhelming majority (95%) of their clients, she added, are women. Tellez relayed that based on their data, the victims have been recruited through a partner employment agency in the Philippines or Indonesia but the agency in Hong Kong ensures the collection of the illegal fees. “The modus operandi of recruitment agencies involves a lending or financing agency where FDWs are forced to sign a loan to cover the payment of their placement fee. In the Philippines, for instance, other employment agencies refer them to a bank that allows opening of checking/current accounts by departing FDWs . They are then are forced by financing agencies/lending companies to sign blank cheques and same companies take hold of the remaining checkbook.,” she narrated. Additionally, the MFMW’s statistics also showed that of the total number with agency-related problems, around 65% also involve banks or money-lending agencies. In Hong Kong, despite a regulation to charge only 10% fee from the basic monthly salary of the migrant domestic worker, employment agencies charge an excessive amount. To ensure the full payment of the placement fee, the worker is forced to enter into a loan with a financing agency. “To make matters worse, the employment agency confiscates the migrant worker’s passport and employment contract to ensure the payment of the loan. Cases of harassment, verbal abuse, even death threats were also reported in relation to the collection of loan payments by lending companies,” Tellez revealed. Ironically, payment of excessive fees does not guarantee job security and humane working conditions for the migrant worker. Of the total cases, 77% complained of long working hours; 45% work before or after going out on their rest day; almost 42% have no private rooms; almost 20% are labour-related cases; 19% do not have sufficient food; 15% suffer ill treatment; 7% physical assault; and almost 7% were forced to do illegal work. TheMFMW has taken measures to address the alarming increase of cases on illegal recruitment. Foremost of these is the provision of education and welfare seminars to the victims who have fallen prey to the big business of labor export in the country. ”The first quarter statistics report is only the tip of the iceberg as the MFMW is now being swamped with complainants every Sunday with a record of 200 cases in one day alone. This is a very alarming trend that needs the immediate response both by the Hong Kong government and the governments of the country of origin of FDWs,” Tellez concluded. Reference: Cynthia CA Tellez General Manager MFMW Ltd. (852) 9740-9460
Posted on: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 04:59:40 +0000
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