new rule direct hire

Posted by 3579 (658 days ago)

Hi. I'm trying to hire a helper direct from the Philippines. She will get her passport this week. Was told by a friend that there is a new rule (POEA MC4) which requires the employer to pay HK$50,000. I have tried to contact some Hong Kong employment agencies this morning to get some answers but have been getting recorded messages in Cantonese which I can't understand.
I would appreciate if anyone knows about this new rule. Thank you...

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Posted by evildeeds (658 days ago)

As usual the Internet is your friend and a 5 second search pulls up the Philippines Consulate here in HK with, you guessed it, the latest rules.........

http://www.philcongen-hk.com/

Posted by 3579 (658 days ago)

thanks evildeeds, exactly what i was looking!

Posted by Miggy (658 days ago)

Hi, I just checked with the agency who processed the papers of my previous DH and she said this USD5,000 bond only applies if you process your DH's paper on your own. If you go through an agency, you will not be charged this amount. This is to protect the helpers from deceitful employers. If through an agency, the employer will be held liable for any wrongdoing as the agency will go after them.

I asked this agency because I will soon be hiring a new helper direct from the Philippines but will have them process her papers. I will only be charged the normal rate and the helper will not be charged any processing fee.

Posted by evildeeds (657 days ago)

"This is to protect the helpers from deceitful employers"

Actually no. This is just another attempt to monopolise specific agencies and make money. No other reason. Same as the OWWA and POEA guidelines. Supposed to protect workers but in fact so weighed down by bureaucracy and corruption that it has made the situation worse for FDH and has not worked at all leaving many FDH to fend for themselves, exactly the opposite of the original "protection" these schemes are supposed to offer.

This will also apply to renewals of contacts as well which now have to be done through agencies. So now how many FDH will be sent back home? For more information on this please look at the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants website here http://www.apmigrants.org/papers/13.html

Note to ED. Will this affect the AsiaXP agency at all?

Posted by 3579 (657 days ago)

Hi Miggy. Thanks for the info. I will have an agency do the hiring process as soon as my helper-to-be gets her passport.
Evildeeds, I agree with you. The Philippines is basically killing the goose that lays the golden egg....

Posted by abby78 (657 days ago)

for sure this is a way for the Philippine Government to earn/squeeze money out of the Filipino overseas workers, I still remember when we direct hire our helper, she suppose to go through a seminar about household chores, cantonese lessons...etc...etc...and she have to pay for it, and when she was not able to get a schedule earlier they asked her to pay money so that they can try to fit her in the earliest schedule. In Philippines its all about the money. Thats why a lot of Filipinos wants to go work in other countries and don't want to go back home.

Posted by Saikunga (657 days ago)

And the corruption starts at the top and fliters down.....

Posted by missdj (644 days ago)

So, does this mean it is cheaper/better/less hassle/etc to hire through an agency or do direct hire on own? Benefits, negative / positive?

Posted by tgm (643 days ago)

3579, I think the new direct hire rule has now been suspended:

http://www.poea.gov.ph/news/2008/PR_Feb2008_suspendMC4.pdf

Posted by abby78 (633 days ago)

yeah it is suspended until further orders, thats because of massive protest from OFWs abroad

Posted by cezzile (633 days ago)

see the condition of OFW's? we cannot blame them for being choosy.

Posted by abby78 (633 days ago)

actually this new rule, most of the people affected are the employers.

Posted by 3579 (630 days ago)

thanks tgm. good thing that direct hire rule has been suspended. we're now waiting for our helper...

Posted by labber (630 days ago)

many agencies here in hongkong they charged more to the fdh than the employer. especially those fdh who are terminate the contract they charge employer for 3,500 and they charge the fdh for about 8,000 hk when they go back to phils to process the papers so, many fdh are avoiding to apply to the agency because of the big cost.

Posted by tgm (629 days ago)

3579, no problem...