Posted by
SuzieW
18 yrs ago
Our DH who is working with us for over a year and takes excellent care of our 2 babies is going back to Philippines in August, she did not ask for it, we make her go.
She's now telling me that she would like to enroll her daughter (who is in Philippines) in an agency so that she can come to work in HK as a DH (she told me several times already she's helping her daughter to come) and she needs HKD10,000 to do so.
I don't have any trust issue with her (I trust her with my kids), and I don't mind lending her money, however HKD10,000 is a very big amount for us to give in one go, and I'm wondering if all agencies in Philippines charge this much, and if maybe she could find one with more 'reasonable' fees.
If anyone could give me some idea about how it works in Philippines to get an agency to find a job as DH in HK and how much it costs.
Thanks
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agencies in the phils charge between 80000php to 150000php,,,
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Thank you very much for your answer, am still shocked that agencies would charge so much (up to 6 months salary in HK!) but seems like the HKD10,000 amount is reasonable.
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TC
18 yrs ago
If you are going to lend the money you should do so in accordance with a written agreement signed by both parties. I'd include a set amount to be deducted from her wages each month (and make it a realistic amount that doesn't result in the loan still being outstanding and the turn of the next century - but also realistic enough that it doesn't cause the helper ongoing financial hardship), or from the final amounts payable if/when her contract is terminated (by either party) early (but here you need to bear in mind that it is unlikely that she will have 10,000 owing to her on termination), and that no other advances will be considered until this one is fully repaid. And I'd also include an interest component. I've been told in the past that this is harsh, but peopel have to learn that money doesn't come cheap - and why should you I pay (through loss of interest myself) on their account? The last two loans I made are still yet to see any reduction in the balance - after 18 months and 9 months respectively. With the first one I subsequently found out there were other loans that she just felt she had to pay off first, and I've since (in my mind, at least) written off the amount. The more recent case was family and occasionally I make sarcastic comments which don't go down very well, but what the heck. My 'new' rules have actually seen no requests for loans in the last 9 months! And that makes me happy at least.
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Thank you TC for your very useful and 'realistic' advise.
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Why not try to help her daughter find a job here so that she does not need to go through an agency? That way, your helper can save the money and you don't have to lend her money.
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This is alot of money for your DH to pay back. 10 months at $1,000 a month - not counting those months when she can't pay because of other things she has to pay.
What do other DH do when they want to come out to HK that do not a have benevolent sponsor??
What if this girl decides to throw it all in after 2 months...
I am sorry - but my charity does not extend to lending this much money to people whose income and commitments may not allow them to be responsible enough to pay it back - if you really want to help her - then come up with a partial payment - not the full amount. Give some of the responsibility back to her.
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I am currently looking for a full time helper and I am not sure if I want to hire one through an agency. Is it true that all helpers who use an agency to help them find a job in HK have to pay a big fee? If so, that means any helpers I hire through an agency will have a big debt? I don't want to hire someone who has debt problem as the chance of them borrowing more money from other sources tend to be much higher; and I certainly don't want to get any calls or visits from money lenders at my home. In this case, should I not use an agency then?
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If she's Indonesian then I think it's pretty much guaranteed that she will be starting with a huge debt (something in the region of HK$20,000). So she's paying her agency back $2000 a month, and she will end up borrowing to cover her other commitments. This is why it is so evil when employers only pay their helpers $2000 or less (and I do know of people who do this). All Indonesians must use an agency - the Indonesian government is well aware of the problem and I assume there are people at all stages of the employment/visa process who are making money by abusing their compatriots.
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Hi Geiboyi - I am looking to hire Philippino helpers - do you think they have the same problem as the indonesian?
Thanks.
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cd
18 yrs ago
I think HKD 10,000 is too high. We are in the process of getting a new helper, his mum is paying the agency fees, and they are $3,400 which includes the visa etc. Why don't you phone some agencies and ask them how much they charge. Most helpers I've heard of pay around $3-3,500.
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CD, I think you are hiring a DH locally. If you hire a DH from the Philippines you pay an agency here around HK1,600 (all inclusive) and your potential DH will pay around HK12,000 to an agency in the Philippines. I do think it’s too much for a DH to pay. That’s one of the reasons why I hired a young DH with no kids or a huge family to support. She is very excited that after 4 months of working for me she paid off 50% of her dept, being able at same time to buy new clothes, bags and shoes. Now she is already planning excitedly how she’ll soon start saving her money.
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The agencies charge overseas DH about 20 000 pesos, some a little less. But they do not have to pay anything UNTIL the agency FINDS a job for her. When the DH gets hired, then the agency takes money from the DH by installments. No DH has THAT kind of lump sum money to pay BEFORE a contract ?! If she did, she wouldn't be needing the job.
Some agencies still charge the employer about $ 3200 HKD for the processing fees, and commission....etc. DH doesn't have to pay a dime. (That's in my case), but now, many agencies want to stay competitive, so they advertise, only need $ 1200 HKD or $ 1800 HKD, employer gets a DH processed, with medical, and 1 way ticket from Philippines/Indonesia...etc. wherever. But the other half of the "commission" and "fees" is paid by the DH.
What my friends and family does now when we DO hire a DH through an agency that charges the DH, we reimburse the DH when she arrives, with satisfactory work and attitude, the DH will get the money reimbursed over 3 months time.
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My last two helpers have been Sri Lankan - both found through this site. They have no agency fees (I assume if they come here the first time they may have paid something, but both were here already), and even the consulate notarizing fee is less than the othe countries, so I believe they are being ripped off less than a lot of others. Of course you souldn't really generalise about nationalities, but my first helper was Filipina and despite being recommend by friends, she turned out to fit every one of the Filipina DH stereotypes. Both Sri Lankans have been great.
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cd
18 yrs ago
Actually we're hiring direct from the Philippines, as was our last helper. I'm pretty sure the agency fees in HK are the only costs they've incurred.
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tly
18 yrs ago
SuzieW, I am pretty sure when you hire someone direct from the Philippines which the agencies here term "direct hire" your helper does not pay the HK10,000 at all. I am currently in the process of looking for a DH and are open to helpers who are ending their contracts here and have also interviewed a few who are in the Philippines. My agreement with those I've interviewed in the Philippines is that I will pay for the HK$3000+ first to get her over, then she will pay me back monthly after she starts work for me. They all agreed because they will not be spending the HK$10,000 which they would have to spend had the agency in Manila found them an employer. I am taking this approach and so have many of my friends because we wanted our helpers to not take for granted the job they have found.
So I suggest your helper ask around and find an employer who is willing to look at her credentials and interview her on the phone. Maybe you can also ask your friends who are in the process of hiring and suggest your helpers daughter. That way the agency here will take care of getting her over and she won't have to deal with a Philippine agency and pay the HK$10,000 since she was able to find an employer on her own.
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foolsevery1, direct hire means the "DH" is NOT part of the agency's candidates. It's someone the employer picked by themselve, and the "direct hire" process is simply having the agency process the papers/documents/ visa on behalf of the employer, and includes usually a 1 way ticket to HK, and a medical check up and pregnancy check before arriving to HK. There is no training involved.
Technic told me if by "direct hire" no matter what happens, whether the DH I picked arrives or not due to "health Problems", problem with her documents, or No show..... etc. I still have to pay the Agency fee, b/c they would have already done all the work, and it's my own problem if the DH I picked had a problem. It was a risk I had to take. Thank goodness, nothing happened.
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MERL
18 yrs ago
hello everyone...also wanted to hire a dh...and wanted a filipina...have some contacts in phils if indeed anybody wants to hire one as well, without the hassle...got 2 ladies interested to work in hkg, might hire 1...i want to do direct hiring as i dont want to go through the agencies in manila charging hefty fees...is it legal to let them in as tourist and then later, i'll process their working permit as a dh?...just curious...i know these ladies personally...want to be of help to them minus the hassle so to speak...
thanks for the insights..
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TC
18 yrs ago
If they come in as a tourist they'll have to leave again while the DH application is being processed, so why waste already-limited resources? And as looking for a job while on a tourist visa is technically a breach of those visa conditions the ID might take a dim view of it. Plus it's likely their arrival on a tourist visa might attract attention if there's no real substance to the claim to be a real tourist (evidence of accommodation arrangements etc). If they say they are staying with you (as friends) and then the ID receives a DH application for one of them from the same address then more questions could be asked. It's up to you, though.
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