DOLE blamed for contract rejection

Filipino overseas workers in Hong Kong have accused personnel of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office for causing confusion that has resulted in the rejection of their contract and double payment of fees.

“It is a double whammy for OFWs [overseas Filipino workers] due mainly to the lack of information and foresight of the Philippine Consulate General through the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO). They already knew that the HK’s Immigration Department will not be processing old contracts anymore starting February, and yet they processed old contracts they knew that they could only give back to the applicant for submission to the immigration by the said date or even after,” Dolores Balladares, chairman of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK), said.