The new two-year validity of membership to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration is yet to be followed in Hong Kong, despite this being made into law more than four months ago.This was learned by The SUN from staff processing new employment contracts at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office on Sunday, Oct. 9.
“As of now po, we still collect the fee from every worker who submits a contract for processing”, said the staff.
Told about this, Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre, was taken aback.
“It should have been enforced a long time ago. Let me check into that,” he said.
For years, overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong have sought to make membership in OWWA voluntary, or at least get the validity period fixed at two years, instead of per contract basis.
This is particularly relevant to Hong Kong, where workers have no security of tenure, and the more vulnerable ones like foreign domestic helpers are known to have their contracts terminated within weeks, or even days, of being employed.
It thus came as a surprise to many when former OWWA administrator Rebecca Calzado announced during a dialogue with community leaders on Sept 25 that their long-standing demand had been granted through a law signed on May 31 this year by former president Benigno S. Aquino III.
According to Calzado, the US$25 members’ contribution is now valid for two years, unlike in the past when an OFW had to pay the fee for each employment contract processed.
This means, Calzado said, that even if a worker’s contract was prematurely terminated, his or her membership was still good for two years.
She also announced that under the same law, members who have made at least 10 years’ worth of contributions will be entitled to a rebate.
But she was quick to add that the new law still needs implementing guidelines, which could only be forged after consulting with all stakeholders.— DCLM
