HongKong — To many Filipinos, working overseas seems like an easy way to an easier life—a way out of poverty for the brighter future of their families.
In September 2023, Philippine Statistics Authority reported a total of 2.16 million Filipinos working abroad—making the Philippines one of the countries with the biggest overseas employment industry.
Despite the bigger opportunities abroad, Filipino domestic workers were also the usual victims of violence, abuse, fake jobs, of human traffickers and syndicates.
Following this, the Philippine Consulate General in HongKong warned off Filipino Migrant Domestic Workers against offers of surrogacy jobs in other countries.
In an advisory, the Consulate said that they have received reports on a syndicate group targeting terminated MDWs, offering them work of becoming surrogate mothers in Georgia.
“The MDW is convinced to pose as a returning worker to Hong Kong and, thereafter, they are transited through the UAE or Qatar before they arrive in Georgia. Once in Georgia, some become victims of rape and forced abortions,” the Consulate noted.
Aside from this, the Consulate also notified MDWs against visa fixers posing as representatives of legitimate employment agencies.
Reports received by the Consulate revealed that fixers charge job seekers of HK$20,000 – HK$25,000 to find them a Foreign Domestic Helper visa sponsors in HongKong.
“The fixer will assure the MDW that she can stay and work in Hong Kong without working for the employer stated in her Standard Employment Contract (SEC). Unfortunately, several Filipino MDWs were already arrested and convicted for False Representation to an Immigration Officer by partaking in this modus operandi,” it added.
Under HongKong Immigration Ordinance, conviction on the case is punishable by a fine amounting to HK$ 150,000 and imprisonment of 14 years.