Note: Nearly a thousand Filipino domestic workers marched in downtown Central in Hong Kong last Sunday, 12 December, to protest the Philippine government's imposition of a compulsory insurance scheme, the fourth form of mandatory "insurance" for OFWs in Hong Kong. Because it is 4 times redundant, more than a hundred employment contracts of HK-bound OFWs being processed were put on hold by employers who were angered by what they claim as a "policy of a greedy government". OFWs are opposing this new policy which the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) started to implement last November 8 because it is now threatening the jobs of many OFWs and many will be forced to shoulder the US$144 cost of the insurance only to keep their jobs.
For Reference: Dolores Baladares
�� � � � � � � � � � � Chairperson, UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK
�� � � � � � � � � � � Tel. (852) 9747-2986
Manifesto of OFW organizations in Hong Kong against
the POEA mandatory insurance scheme
Our livelihood is at stake.
Protection for overseas Filipino workers should not cost us our jobs nor should it be a financial burden for OFWs. It is thus ironic that the new mandatory insurance scheme of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), contained in its Memorandum Circular 09, in reality puts our jobs at risk, threatens our future, and poses further strain to the already vulnerable condition of overseas Filipino workers.
On December 12, OFWs in Hong Kong will pour out into the streets, condemn this new burden, and call for genuine protection to migrant Filipino.
We oppose the new mandatory insurance scheme for OFWs in Hong Kong because:
1. Hong Kong OFWs are already provided with an insurance policy as it is a requirement of the Employment Ordinance for hiring foreign domestic workers. OFWs are also made to pay repeatedly to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) that is merely another insurance scheme now that its services have been further reduced.
Three insurance policies do not translate to more protection. Instead, it triples our insecurity for our future.
2. The new mandatory insurance scheme has already resulted to employers backing out from hiring OFWs while other OFWs have been informed that their getting rehired is still in question.
If OFWs lose their jobs, will the Philippine government provide them with a decent employment? The POEA has no right to impoverish us and our family back home.
3. While the POEA asserts that employers or agencies will be the ones to pay for the additional insurance, more often than not, fees such as this insurance are shouldered by the OFWs either through manipulation of payment records or paid by OFWs in exchange for staying on the job.
4. The POEA MC-09 plays right into the heart of the Philippine government�s plan to transfer to the private sector its responsibility of providing services and protection to OFWs. Thus there are plans to cut the budget for assistance to OFWs, the OWWA Omnibus Policies is still in place, and now this mandatory insurance scheme.
In this light, HK OFWs demand that:
1. In countries where OFWs are not covered with insurance, policies should be made to provide them with one while, at the same time, making sure that paying for such an insurance policy is not passed on to OFWs.
2. OFWs in Hong Kong should be exempted from the mandatory insurance scheme. The Philippine government should instead assert improvements in the current insurance benefits while also improving its own services and mechanisms for assistance to OFWs and family.
3. The Philippine government should uphold its responsibility to OFWs. It should not pass this on to the private sector and especially not to OFWs. Laws such as the Republic Act 10002 should be made to serve this purpose.
POEA MC-09 puts additional anxiety and strain to OFWs. It must be opposed until genuine services and protection for OFWs are realized.�
Signed in Hong Kong
12 December 2010
1. 1-Ganap Guardians
2. Abra Migrant Workers Welfare Association (AMWWA)
3. Abra Tinguian Ilocano Society (ATIS-HK)
4. Alay Kapwa Filipino Catholic Group
5. Alcalaneans Association
6. Annak ti Maeng, Tubo HK
7. Annak ti Marcos - COIN
8. Association of Concerned Filipinos (ACFIL)
9. Association of Concerned Migrants Workers - DB
10. ASTIG-Quarry Bay
11. Atok Comrades of Hong Kong (ACOH)
12. Balatong �Migrant Workers Association
13. Balili Alab Workers Organization (BAWO)
14. Balungao Overseas Workers Association�
15. Banaue Organization
16. Bangaan Fidelisan Tanulong Madongo Pide Org (BFTAMP)�
17. Bangon Pilipinas Hong Kong
18. Bangued Hong Kong Organization
19. Bauko District Organization (BDO)
20. BAYAN Hong Kong
21. BCIG, La Paz
22. Benguet Federation�
23. Binalonan Migrants Workers Organization
24. Boliney-ATIS
25. Bontoc Migrant Workers Organization (BMWO)
26. Bucay Migrant Workers
27. CBOA
28. CIBAC Hong Kong
29. Conglomeration of Ilocos Norte
30. Conner Apayao Migrant Workers Association (CAMWA)
31. Consolidated Filipino Community Brigade (CFCB-HK)
32. CORALL-CORDIVOW
33. Cordillera Alliance (CORALL)
34. Cordillera Mens Club
35. Cuyapo Association in Hong Kong
36. DAMAMASU
37. Daphne Ceniza-Kuok
38. Divine Word Migrants Apostolate (DIWMA)
39. Edna Aquino
40. FILGUYS
41. Filipino Friends � Hong Kong (FFHK)
42. Filipino Migrant Association (FMA)
43. Filipino Migrant Workers' Union (FMWU)
44. Filipino Women Migrant Workers Association (FILWOM)
45. FMWU-Bus 13 Chapter
46. FMWU-Chater Garden Chaptrer
47. FMWU-Chater Road Chapter
48. FMWU-Tregunther Chapter
49. Friends of Bethune House (FBH)
50. Gabriela HK Bank
51. Gabriela Hong Kong
52. Gabriela Tsuen Wan
53. Gabriela Yuen Long
54. Group of Active Leaders (GOAL)
55. Growing in Grace Church
56. Guinsadan Overseas Workers Organization HK
57. Helpers of Islam
58. Hingyon Organization
59. Hong Kong Villiasinian Association
60. Ifugao Association
61. Isabela Federation Hong Kong
62. Janiuaynon Association in Hong Kong
63. Junior Association of Migrants
64. Justice and Peace Net (Evangelization Family)
65. Kabayan Overseas Workers Assn (KOWA)
66. Kadaklan Overseas Workers Assn�
67. Kajem Association
68. Kalinga Province Hong Kong Workers Ass'n (KAPHWA)
69. KOMADRONA-HK
70. Kowloon Filipino Baptists Church (Kowloon Tong)�
71. Las Filipinas Hong Kong
72. Leyte Overseas Filipino Workers Ass'n�
73. Licuan-Baay Hong Kong Association
74. LIKHA Filipino Migrant Cultural Organization
75. Luzon Federation
76. Mabama Organization, Malibcong
77. Maeng Tribe of Abra, Luba-Tubo HK
78. Manabo HK Organization
79. Maru Chavez Maesa, Chairperson, MIGRANTE Canada
80. Methodist Church Filipino Migrants
81. Methodist International Church Filipino Fellowship (MICFF)
82. Methodist Shatin Filipino Fellowship�
83. Migrante Hong Kong Bank
84. Migrante Naguilian, Isabela�
85. Migrante Nueva Vizcaya
86. Migrante Sectoral Party
87. Migrante Shatin
88. MIGRANTE Switzerland
89. Migrants Association for te Protection of Rights and Livelihood (MAPRL)
90. Mission Volunteers (MOVERS)
91. Mountain Province Community - Hong Kong
92. Municipality of Lacub Association
93. Municipality of Tineg Association
94. National Organization of Professional Teachers - Hong Kong (NOPT-HK)�
95. Natunin Organization (PANABA)
96. Occidental Mindoro �Association (OMA-HK)
97. Otocan Migrant Workers Association
98. Overseas Sons & Daughters of Lagangilang (OSDAL)
99. Palawan Migrants Association (PMA)
100. Pangasinan Alliance for Rapid Development Society (PARDS)
101. Pasuquin Migrant Workers in Hong Kong
102. Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Association-1-GANAP
103. PIC Choir
104. Pinatud A Saleng Ti Umili (PSU)
105. Poliwes San Vicente Baguio City Organization (PSVBCO)
106. Quezonians
107. Sadanga Organization
108. Sagada Municipality Association (SMA)
109. Sallapadan Manicbel Association
110. San Isidro - ATIS
111. San Juan - ATIS
112. San Pablo Laguna Association
113. South Cotabato Overseas Workers Association (SCOWA)
114. Southern Sabangan Organization
115. St. John's Filipino Fellowship
116. Sta Maria De Pila Association
117. Suyo, Ilocos Sur Association-HK (SISA-HK)
118. Tadian District Organization (TDO)
119. Taipo/NT Filipino Community
120. Tayug Pangasinan Hong Kong (TPHK)
121. The Sun Writers Club
122. Timpuyog Ti Tayum�
123. Unified Drivers Association (UDA)
124. United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK)
125. United Ilocandia
126. United Mankayan Workers Association
127. United Migrants Entrepreneurship Association (UMELA)
128. United Pangasinan Hong Kong (UPHK)
129. Ward Methodist Filipino Mission
130. WOPIC- Antique
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The Secretariat
United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK)
2/F., New Hall, St. John's Cathedral,
4 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong SAR
Tel. (852) 3156-2447� �� Fax. (852) 2526-2894
E-mail: secretariat@unifil.org.hk
Website: http://www.unifil.org.hk
Blog: compatriots.blogspot.com
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