No pay cuts for RP maids in HK, but…

Filipina domestic helpers in Hong Kong can breathe a little easier, at least for the next three months.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced yesterday there will be no reduction in the minimum monthly pay of foreign domestic workers in the special administrative region before March 2002.

"If indeed a wage cut is implemented, the earliest would be in March. The Hong Kong government assured us that they will inform us of plans beforehand," said Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, who recently met with Hong Kong Secretary for Education and Manpower Fanny Law.

Sto. Tomas said Hong Kong officials are currently working on their annual performance review and are awaiting the fourth quarter gross domestic product report before making a decision.

The former British territory, on the brink of a recession, is considering a proposal to reduce by 21.6 percent the minimum monthly pay of about $470 for 233,110 foreign domestic workers.

President Arroyo was earlier accused by protesting maids of agreeing to the wage cut. The President promptly sent Sto. Tomas to Hong Kong to meet with officials of the special administrative region.

The President appealed to Hong Kong to impose less drastic cuts in the wages of domestic helpers there.

"We are trying to work for a change in the minds of Hong Kong authorities," Mrs. Arroyo said.

Filipinos numbering 155,330 make up the largest group among the domestics, who also include Indonesians, Thais and other nationals.

The minimum wage for foreign domestic helpers was cut by five percent during the economic crisis in 1999 and has since been frozen.

In a related development, Sen. Teresa Aquino-Oreta said the problem of wages in Hong Kong underscores the need for the government to immediately put in place a long-term reintegration program to absorb returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Oreta said such a reintegration plan has become even more urgent after Hong Kong-based OFWs pointed out to Sto. Tomas that there are no jobs to go home to even if they want to return to the Philippines for good.

She said the labor chief was reportedly criticized by OFWs for suggesting they leave their employers if the wage cut of 21 percent pushes through.

"This scathing statement coming from OFWs themselves emphasizes the need for the government to craft a reintegration program that will absorb OFWs into the economy. This will provide a long-term solution to the problem," Oreta said.

The senator said the reintegration program should include skills retraining programs, credit facilities and emergency assistance for displaced workers.