Advocates for Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong yesterday urged workers who have been charged exorbitant fees by recruitment agencies to report cases to them, saying it will pressure the Philippine government to act.
Groups say some workers -- mostly maids employed by Hong Kong families -- paid as much as 60,000 to 70,000 pesos (US$1,200 to US$1,400) for placement in a job, even though in the Philippines it is illegal for agencies to charge more than the equivalent of one month's wage overseas.
In Hong Kong, it is illegal for agencies to charge over 10 percent of the workers' monthly salary. The legal minimum salary for foreign maids is HK$3,670 (US$471), although some are paid much less.
Eman Villanueva, secretary-general of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong, one of the lobbying groups, said the groups will compile the reports and pressure the Labor Department in the Philippines to revoke the licenses of agencies that have breached the law.
"We will push the government to act because they're not doing anything," said Villanueva.
About 180,000 of Hong Kong's estimated 240,000 maids come from the Philippines.
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