By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez INQUIRER.net
First Posted 13:36:00 08/30/2010
Filed Under: Overseas Employment, hostage taking, Grandstand Hostage
Original Story: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20100830-289568/OFW-deployment-to-HK-continuesrecruiters
MANILA, Philippines—In what could be a bright spot in the bleak scenario created by the hostage-taking incident in Quirino Grandstand, recruitment agencies on Monday assured that deployment of Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong will continue.
Filipino workers are among the most efficient and are adept in speaking English, making them the first choice by Hong Kong employers, according to Alfredo Palmiery, president of the Society of Hong Kong Accredited recruiters of the Philippines (SHARP).
Marching on Sunday, some 80,000 Hong Kong residents, including legislators, denounced the Philippines government for botching the rescue operation, resulting in the death of eight people, mostly Hong Kong tourists.
Despite this, there has been no cancellation of job orders for Filipino domestic helpers for the former British colony, Palmiery said.
He added that there has been no move to revoke employment contracts as well based on the reports of their counterpart organizations which specializes in hiring domestic helpers, the Hong Kong Federation of Accredited Agencies Ltd. and the General Chamber of Manpower Agencies Ltd.
Palmiery also said he is communicating with his counterpart in Hong Kong for assistance to workers who may be displaced due to the hostage-taking incident.
“Hong Kong employers have proven for decades that Filipino domestic helpers are reliable, honest and are very proficient in the English. This is why employers would not easily let go of workers, they need them,” Palmiery said in a phone interview.
Hong Kong residents depend heavily on the services of Filipino domestic helpers because their presence in the household allows both husband and wife to work to meet the region’s high standard of living.
“It is the Filipino domestic helpers who take care of their children and their homes while they are at work,” Palmiery added.
Filipina domestic helpers, who number about 150,000 in Hong Kong, comprise one-third of domestic helpers in that city and outnumber from other countries, including Indonesia and Vietnam.
Hong Kong was the top destination for household service workers in 2009 with 25,000 new hires, according to statistics from the Philippine Employment Overseas Administration.
The only time deployment to Hong Kong decreased was during the 2007 worldwide financial crisis when many expatriates had to leave Hong Kong because of the shutting down or downsizing of financial institutions, but Filipina maids continue to flock to the region.
Original Story: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20100830-289568/OFW-deployment-to-HK-continuesrecruiters
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