BY SAMMY JULIAN
Manila News Bureau Chief
MANILA – The Philippine Overseas Legal Office is looking into reports that household service workers (HSWs) are being “marketed” in Singapore malls.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Charles Jose, agencies engaged in illegal recruitment practices will be meted the appropriate sanctions
“If the allegations of maltreatment and abuse have been verified, we will immediately refer the case to the Singapore police,” Jose said.
Based on a recent report by international media outlet Al Jazeera, HSWs from the Philippines are being “displayed” at discounted rates by some “maid agencies” in Singapore malls.
They are allegedly made to sit beneath signs and posters that testify to their qualities, or advertise promo rates and discounts.
Jose, however, clarified that there is nothing illegal about legitimate agencies “plying their business of supplying services to those in need of household service workers.”
“That in itself is not illegal,” he said. “But we have to look into the manner of which they are promoting their business. We have to determine how the term ‘display’ was used.”
There are currently around 180,000 Filipino migrant workers in Singapore of which 70,000 are HSWs./PN
