[HKGuy2005]

Just found out recently about a new age rule for domestic helpers from Philippines are now restricted to be 25 year old or older. I am considering hiring a Philippine national, currently 24, who is here in HK currently under a tourist visa. If I sign up as her employer, and she is considered as a direct hire, is that permitted under this new Philippine law? Can anyone provide any helpful insight into this? Much appreciated. Thanks.

[KnowItAll]

There is a new rule about training and testing too.

Lots of confusion right now.

Call the consulate.. they should be able to help.

[Expatriate]

Originally Posted by HKGuy2005

Just found out recently about a new age rule for domestic helpers from Philippines are now restricted to be 25 year old or older.

The background may be, that many job ads in the Philippines are for "Female, 25 years or under". And it is difficult to find a job there if you don't fit.

[rani]

Yes, the min age is 25.

http://www.philcongen-hk.com/media/news010807.htm

[shilo507]

My understanding is that it does not affect Pinay girls under 25 who are ALREADY in HK. Those under 25 who are already here as DH's will not be affected. However, the issue is whether this ONLY applies to those renewing their contracts as DH's or also to girls here on tourist visas.

There is some ambiguity on this point so you may be able to argue this if the application is declined.

[HKGuy2005]

Thanks for the clarification. I guess I will have to see what the consulate says.

[shilo507]

Yes. good luck.

Absolutely laughable that the Philippine government now requires would-be DH's to hold a National Certificate for Household Service Worker" issued by the Technical Education and Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) and the "Certificate of Competency" on Language and Culture (of the host/receiving country) issued by the Overseas Workers' when many of these girls have degrees and speak three or more languages. Talk about a brain drain!

IMHO it is not so much a way to protect Filipina DH's but yet another way to squeeze more Pesos out of the girls prior to them leaving the Phils as presumably they will have to pay for the Certificate?

The cynic in me wants to believe also that the main reason for upping the minimum age to 25 is to ensure that most DH's who do qualify and leave are already married with at least 1 child so that they continue sending remittances home which at the last count amounted to approx. 10% of Philippine GDP.

Many Filipino girls/women who marry foreigners and live abroad in the West cease sending remittances home once they have children of their own in the West. Much as I love the Philippines I remain deeply cynical of the Phillippine government and its exploitation of migrant workers or 'heroes' as it prefers to call them. The senators laugh all the way to the bank.

Rant over!

[rani]

I called the Consulate and apparently the test that they're forcing the helpers to take costs US$200 and it also includes Cantonese. We're thinking of hiring a helper already in HK, she's highly experienced, but has only worked with Expats. She has to go home to apply for a visa and do the test, but she's afraid she's going to fail the Cantonese part Plus no one knows how long the whole process takes now.

[rani]

Our helper has heard from friends that the training in Manila takes 3-6 months.

HKGuy did you call the consulate? Any updates on the new policy?

[annette]

Hello everyone!

As of now my niece is on training in Manila and she said that it takes only 2 weeks.




Annette