Honest OFW from HK returns home

Mildred Perez, the Filipino domestic helper who returned HK $350,545 (P2.1 million) she found while rummaging through a trash bin in Hong Kong, returned home on Tuesday afternoon.

Perez was to return to her home town in Bambang in Nueva Vizcaya but said she would have to go back to the former British colony to pursue charges against her former employer.

The 38-year-old domestic helper alleged that her employer made sexual advances on her. With the case filed in Hong Kong, Perez was barred from seeking employment pending the resolution of her case.

Left with no source of income and money to go back to the Philippines, Perez was forced to live with her sister who was also a domestic helper but with little means to support her.

She eventually turned to scrounging on garbage bins, collecting trashes that can be recycled.

Last April 29, Perez chanced upon a thick packet just slightly bigger than an airmail envelope, in a trash bin at the corner of Pottinger Street and Des Voeux Road.

The envelope contained cash and checks amounting to HK$350,545.

Instead of keeping the money, she returned it to the owner - and got a can of biscuits in return.

A month before the incident, her husband, Eddie Perez, who works as a tricycle driver, was said to have returned a bag containing P20,000 to a passenger in Nueva Ecija. He was given P10 for his fare home by the owner in return.

Because of her exemplary display of honesty, Mildred Perez has been reaping honors and rewards from home.

Rep. Carlos Padilla of the lone district of Nueva Vizcaya, passed House Resolution 1212 commending her honesty and trustworthiness.

Padilla, who helped raised some money, confirmed that a P100,000 financial support for Perez’s family is now ready on top of the P50, 000, which will be coming from the provincial government and additional financial support from Mayor Benjamin Cuaresma of Bambang town.

Eddie Perez was also offered a job at the provincial office of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Moreover, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) approved a request by Padilla for educational assistance for two of the Perezes children.

The Perez couple belong to the Isinay tribe of Bambang and Aritao, a tribe known for the virtue of honesty.

By : Joseph Holandes Ubalde, GMANews.TV

Guidelines to Prospective HK Employers in Direct hiring Household Service workers

Below are the list of steps that could serve as a guideline to prospective HK employers who wants to directly hire Household Service workers or domestic helpers from Philippines without going through an employment agency.

NOTE: Helpers coming to Hong Kong on employment visa for the FIRST TIME are normally NOT ALLOWED under the direct hire processing except those hired by family of Heads of State/Government; Ministers, Deputy Ministers and other Senior Government Officials of the host country; senior officials of the diplomatic corps and duly recognized international organizations;

1. Go to 2/F HK Immigration department to secure forms in employing domestic helpers.

2. Fill up the following forms and prepare the other necessary documents :
Visa/Entry Permit Application Form
Declaration of Applicant Form
Undertaking by the Helper Form
An original copy of the standard Employment Contract Form
Application for Employment of Domestic Helper from Abroad Form
Photocopies of the Helper's travel document
Copy of the Helper's Hong Kong Identity Card (if any)
Copy of the employer's HK Permanent Identity Card/HK Identity Card/passport
Proof of the employer's financial position
Proof of the employer's residential address
2" x 2" picture

2. Go to Philippine Consulate (14/F United Center, 95 Queensway, Admiralty, HK or you may inquire through 2823-8500/ 282-8501) to secure
Employer’s Information Sheet. or you may get it from Counter 16. Fill up completely the Information Sheet and attach recent picture (“2 X 2”)

3. Attach completely filled-up Employer’s Information Sheet to the Employment Contract and other required and/or supporting documents.

4. Give the above-mentioned documents to the POLO Staff for evaluation. If approved, the POLO Staff will issue a receipt in the amount of HK$297.50 as
processing fee. Get the Original Receipt (O.R. white).

5. Bring the O.R. after 3 working days to Counter 13 for the release of employment contract and other documents.

6. Proceed to the HK Immigration Department for the processing of employment visa. Normal processing time: 4 to 6 weeks.

7. Upon approval of the employment visa, the employer should send to the worker/helper in the Philippines the following documents:
a. the visa sticker;
b. the verified employment contract;
c. plane/air ticket or Ticket Exchange Voucher (TEC); and
d. endorsement letter to the POEA which is signed by the Labor Attache of HK SAR

8. Upon receipt, the worker/helper should proceed to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Name Hire Processing Unit, Household Worker’s Processing Center, located at the G/F, POEA Bldg., (Blas F. Ople Bldg.), corner EDSA and Ortigas Ave., Mandaluyong City with telephone nos. (632) 722-1160 & 722-1193, or to any of its nearest District/Regional Office to submit the endorsement letter from the Labor Attache and photocopies of all the other documents, together with the photocopy of his/her passport for the final processing and issuance of Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC). (Note: Original copies of the aforementioned documents are also to be presented for verification)

9. The worker/helper should also undergo a medical examination in a POEA Accredited Hospital or Clinic. The cost of said medical examination should be shouldered by the employer.

10. If all the papers are in order, the worker/helper will be required to attend the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) conducted by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). The following fees are to be paid:

11. An Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) will then be issued to the worker/helper and he/she could now book/confirm her flight to Hong Kong, SAR. The OEC would also exempt the worker/helper from paying the Philippine travel tax and the International airport terminal fee.