Filipino workers bound for Hong Kong and Taiwan are being charged excessive placement fees that reach up to P120,000 (US$3,000), leaving families at home laden with heavy debts, government officials say.
The workers, especially those bound for Taiwan, also face trafficking and labor exploitation, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, said yesterday.
"Hong Kong and Taiwan markets are being monitored,” Baldoz told ucanews.com. “This is our challenge in Hong Kong and we continue to investigate complaints of our workers there.”
Philippine law prohibits workers from paying placement fees exceeding 10 percent of their monthly salary.