OVERSEAS Filipino workers (OFW) in Hong Kong are now implementing a self-imposed curfew amid frequent anti-government protests there, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Citing the report from Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) on Tuesday, Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello said many of the OFW in Hong Kong, particularly household service workers (HSW), have complied with the recommendation of Filipino officials there to avoid going to public places for now.
“Since the riots usually occur in the evening, they (HSWs) are advised to stay at home by the time of the end of their working hours,” Bello said in an interview.
“Most of the domestic workers have curfew during their dayoff,” he added.
Bello said those who opt not to follow the advice, will solely be responsible for their well-being if are hurt during demonstrations.
“They will not be able to blame their employers and our POLO officer,” Bello said.
As an additional precaution, Bello also reported the POLO in Hong Kong has advised foreign recruitment agencies (FRA) during a meeting on Aug. 8 to “pick up the worker upon arrival at the airport, whether old- or first-timer.”
FRAs were also required to regularly update the POLO regarding the status of their OFWs.
Likewise, Bello said Philippine recruitment agencies (PRA) must send local SIM cards to their OFWs.
“This will allow the PRAs to individually check the whereabouts [of their OFWs],” Bello said.
Lastly, he said employers of OFWs in Hong Kong were reminded not to bring their OFWs, if they will be attending anti-government protests.
As of press time, Bello, who also heads the governing board of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), said they have yet to issue a deployment ban for Hong Kong pending the necessary recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
“If it can be established by our DFA that the protest actions are going out of control and that the local police could no longer control the activities, that is when we will prevent our workers from going there in order to prevent putting them in a compromising situation,” Bello said.
Image credits: AP/Kin Cheung