Agency License Cancelled Over Collection of Excessive Placement Fee from 3 Household Workers in Hong Kong

The license of an employment agency  in Tsuen Wan was cancelled by the Labour Department on Feb 21 for separate cases of overcharging three Filipina applying  to be domestic helpers last year.
 A Labour spokesman identified Jen’s Employment Agency Limited, which has been recruiting Filipino helpers both from Manila and Hong Kong.

On Sept 1, the said employment agency was convicted and fined $24,000 by Tsuen Wan Court for charging nearly 30 times the allowable commission of $411 at that time to a Filipina job applicant. 

On Nov 24, they were  found guilty for the second time by the same court of overcharging two other helpers.They were again fined $26,000.
The second conviction prompt the Labour Department and underwent the process of revoking the agency’s license.

The two Pinay HSWs filed complaints of overcharging against the agency with Labour Department’s Employment Agencies Administration.
 Investigators found  their complaints to have sufficient evidence against the agency and filed the charges.
Jen’s apparently continued to recruit domestic workers in Manila in spite of being convicted.

They even announced on their Facebook page that they will have a job interview to be held at Ermita Manila.

The Labour spokesman warned agency operators to comply with the law or they would face prosecution and risk having their licenses revoked or not renewed.

“Under the Employment Ordinance, the Commissioner for Labour may refuse to issue or renew or may revoke a license of an EA if the person operating or intending to operate (it) has contravened any provision of Part XII of the Ordinance such as overcharging job-seekers, or if he is considered not a fit and proper person to operate an EA,” he said.

Labour also reminded agencies to comply with the Code of Practice for Employment Agencies, promulgated on Jan 13.

The EAA will conduct regular and surprise inspections of agencies and issue warning letters to those found violating the Code.

The commissioner has all the right to  exercise his power under the Employment Ordinance to refuse to issue, to renew, or even to revoke an agency’s license if he is convinced that the licensee concerned is not appropriate  to operate an agency.

To those who are in Hong Kong that has any inquiries or complaints about unlicensed operation, overcharging job-seekers’ commission by agencies or concerning the Code may be relayed to the EAA at  2115 3667. 

You may also visit their office at Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon.

Source: The Sun HK

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©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO

Filipina In Abu Dhabi Caught Trying To Rob A Money Exchange?

video courtesy of Abu Dhabi Police

According to reports, a Filipina expatriate in Abu Dhabi  has disguised herself last Thursday,  by wearing an abaya and tarha while carrying a plastic gun as she tried to rob a money exchange. 

Policemen said, they were able to take the 33 year old woman into custody after one of the employees alerted them. The CCTV footage showed that she threatened the employees with the concealed weapon, which was later found out to be a plastic gun. 

The woman said that she did it in order to pay her debt amounting to Dh 140,000. 

Watching through the video though no face has been shown, we doubt that a Filipino has done this or will do this. We asked the Philippine embassy or the consulate to look into this matter and issue a statement if necessary.

Photo, video and news from http://yhoo.it/1CizckA

©2015 THOUGHTSKOTO

Tie a Yellow Ribbon for Cory Aquino

Barrio Siete started tying a yellow ribbon around the blogosphere in support for Cory and prayers for her recovery.

Cory Aquino Praying.

Courtesy of J. Galvez from Flickr.com

I was 10 years old when the EDSA revolution happened. I have come to know the woman that gives inspiration to Ninoy and inspired millions of Filipino's as well, and continue to be a beckon of light, strength, social justice, honesty, faith and motherhood.

Whatever our political persuassions are, wherever we are, we cannot deny the fact that

Cory Aquino

a plain housewife of a martyred hero hastily sent to the presidency by people thirsting for democracy - she learned so much then, but there is one thing that I have admired of her all throughout the years...

her

humility.

Please pray for her. Or tie a yellow ribbon in your blog too.

Whatever God's purpose for her, she will be remembered as an icon of the 1986 People Power, an icon of democracy.

©2009 THOUGHTSKOTO

Tinamaan Ako

Bandang 6am pa lang ng umaga nakapila na ako sa International Philippine School of Al Khobar or IPSA para magrenew ng aking passport na mageexpire ngayong September. Limang taon na ako sa Saudi Arabia, ang tagal ng panahon magmula ng dumating ako dito, 28 years old pa lang ako.

Pang 211 ako sa mga nakapila, hindi pa kasali ang mga isang libo mahigit na nakapila sa labas. Sinasabing mga nasa 500,000 na OFW's ang nandito sa Eastern Province, ang oil capital ng Saudi Arabia. Along the pila, iba't-ibang kwento ng buhay ang napag-uusapan habang umuusad pagong pupuntang assessment, payment at encoding.

Ito yung pila para sa payment after maassess na okay na ang mga documents mo.

Meron isang kasabay ko na mali ang picture, hindi blue background, DH siya, at wala ng perang pampapicture ulit. Kinausap ko, at binigyan ng 25SR para pambayad sa kanyang picture sa isang room duon sa IPSA. Buti na lang sahod kahapon, kaya galante ako ngayon, hehehe.

Meron isang katabi ko sa upuan, 24 years old pa lang na babae, DH din siya, galing Basilan at ang sahod niya at 700SR or P8,400 pesos. Nalungkot ako sa sahod niya, masyadong mababa para mawalay sa pamilya pero kailangan niyang mapag-aral ang mga kapatid niya, at masaya naman daw siya sa amo niya, isang mutawa at mababait naman daw ang mga anak.

Ito naman ang mahabang pilahan sa loob ng IPSA Gym.

Ang isa ko pang katabi ay 26 years old na binatang lalaki, tig welder daw siya, nagweweld ng mga stainless sa isang malayong bayan dito sa Eastern Province. Dumating siya dito sa pilahan mga alas 2:00 ng madaling araw, mahaba na daw ang pila. Kung bakit nagkasabay kami sa pilahan kahit alas 6:00 na ako dumating gawa ng kasama ko sila Mrs. Thoughtskoto at Babytots kasi magpaparehistro kami sa Comelec para sa OFW voting at dahil may baby kami, pinapasok kami agad. (wais, hehe)

Natapos ako ng pagpaparenew ng passport at pagpaparehistro sa Comelec eksaktong alas 3:00 ng hapon. Sinundo ko sila Mrs. Thoughtskoto at Babytots sa katapat na bahay sa IPSA dahil may kaibigan kami dun at dun ko muna sila pinatambay.

Ito ang voter's registration Booth, kukuhanan ka ng litrato, kukunin ang left and right thumbmark, and digital signature.

Pero napagod ako, at nastress, kaya heto, sakit sa ulo, sipon, lagnat at ubo ang inabot ko. Tinamaan ako ng sakit. Hindi naman H1N1, sakit gawa ng init, alikabok, at pagod. At usual, alaga ako ng mabait kung minamahal kahit hinihila pa ako ng maliit na tsikiting para makipaglaro sa kanyang playhouse.

Ingat po kayo kahit saan man tayo, health is wealth ika nga nila. Nasa bahay lang ako now, kain ng fruits at masasarap na bake at cooking ni Lovefate ko.

Yung mga wala pang entry sa PEBA, sali na po tayo! Kung marami na pong boto ang iba, take note na wala yan sa padamihan ng boto, although merong popular award, 10% lang po iyun sa over-all na criteria. Sali na, habol ka!

©2009 THOUGHTSKOTO

OVERWHELMING RESPONSE

I am honestly overwhelmed, even until now. They come. They keep coming. Bloggers (and non-bloggers) from almost all corners of the world unite with one single purpose – to make a difference to a young mother struggling to come home and be reunited with her kids. It started in Dubai and Saudi Arabia - it reaches France and Germany and the UK, and probably the other major cities in Europe. It reaches Japan, Korea, Australia, and the big cities of USA and Canada. Its story and the call for support have been circulated in emails and post and reposted by the OFW bloggers in the Gulf countries of the Middle East.

There was one time that the prayer rally for Yanah, initiated by LordCM, a System Analyst/OFW Blogger from Palau spread like a virus as prayer for support posted by bloggers abroad and in the Philippines that prompts CM to comment, referring to the picture of Candle and Prayer for Yanah photo snippets dotting his sidebar. “Puro kandila, ang init dito!”  That was truly moving, inspiring and touching. After all, prayer is the most powerful tool here on earth.

Since the Project Twitch has been launched, I have gathered several phone numbers and email addresses, a couple of dozen or more. Me and my serving-as-treasurer-of the project Mrs. Thoughtskoto gained new friends, renewed our spirit and have full of hope.

I heard the voices of the men and women that I highly esteemed in the blogosphere. I honestly felt overjoyed by the outpouring of support for Miss Twitch, but I am honestly humbled hearing the voices of the bloggers. Reading their thoughts and musings and funny and sad stories are entertaining to me. But hearing their voices left an impression to me that the people I greatly admired are real people and reachable! Kakatawa di ba? But that’s what I feel. Really.

KABLOGS is truly wonderful. It gather people together, it unites OFW blogger from all walks of life. I never thought about that before.

The Project Twitch realized its goal, to help Ms. Twitch buy her plane ticket. Thanks to a very selfless man out there who willingly offered his generous ways. He didn’t only provide an ordinary plane ticket; he even booked her a business class ticket!

There are others too, who come out of their way and gave P1000, P2000, that I was able to gather more than P11,000 for Ms. Twitch pocket money. May tatlong donating point po actually, one is through the effort of Prof. Pa-Jay, and the other is Jen, Ms. Twitch closest friend in Dubai. On Saturday, March 21, Mrs. Thoughtskoto will deposit how much amount we gathered to Ms. Twitch prior to her flight on the 24^th to the Philippines.

The story is truly inspiring. We don’t take credit for anything we did. We do what we are supposed to do. To help those in need. To comfort those in need of comfort. And to share one another’s burden that they maybe light and easy. This story prompted a film maker of GMA 7, to ask to feature the story in one of the episodes of OFW DIARIES that is shown on local TV and the international Pinoy TV, and online GMA7.tv

OFW Bloggers unite to help a fellow OFW!

I like the idea. What an exposure! She could be an instant celebrity, suddenly put in a limelight.

But it is not my life story to be featured. It is not just about the OFW Bloggers or Kablogs that unites. It is the life of a young mother and her kids who felt like she has nothing left, except her privacy, and her little pride.

She declined. And I feel a tremendous respect and admiration to her for what she did.

Perhaps, one day, if she is strong enough. Call the GMA 7! Yalah! Sino kayang gaganap na Ms. Twitch? Or Kosa? Or BBW? Or RJ, Pogi, or Jen? Hmmn, pwede ba, if kasali ako sa part ko si hmmn, sino ba, pwede na si Piolo? haha!

©2009 THOUGHTSKOTO

HONEST PLEAD - Project HELP TWITCH

Pakiclick po ng photo para sa mas malinaw na larawan at detalye.

Bilang tagapamahala ng Ka-Blogs, tungkulin ko pong magpost ng isang bagay na may hangad na marangal, at makatulong sa kapwa ko. Hindi ko man po ninanais gawin ang bagay na ito pero kung kinakailangan para sa mas mataas at marangal na dahilan, gagawin ko. Husgahan niyo na po ako, at ang aking pamilya, pero ang hangad po nami'y makakatulong sa halos nawawalan ng pag-asang ina na nasa Abroad. Real Life. Real Stories.

Meron pong isang Ka-Blogs na binabagyo ng trials at challenges ngayon…kung palagi po kau sa blog ko kilala niyo po siya. Matindi po ang paki-usap ko sa kanya na  magbloblog ako about this project kasi di ko nap o alam ang way para mareach ang mga network ko at friends ko, although I will also circulate this email. Isa sa mga isinaalang alang ko bago ako humingi ng permission ay baka nahihiya siya pero may mga mas importante at napakahalagang bagay na mas nakakahigit sa hiya for her sa panahon ngayon.

I will go straight sa pinakapoint.

-          Nasa Dubai sia working for nearly a year.

-          Pauwi sia gawa ng global crisis at nawalan ng trabaho

-          Pauwi na sia at naghanap ng way para makadiscount, bumili ng ticket at the next day ang flight ng malaman na peke pala ang ticket niya at ang binilhan niya ng ticket ay hindi na employed sa travel agency na yun

-          Ang mga anak niya (3 kids, 5, 2 and the just turn 1 year old, ituturn-over ng nag-aalaga sa DSWD opt for adoption kapag di sia nakauwi sa takdang date, next week)

-          Airline cost is 1500 Dirhams or Saudi Riyal until March 17, after that  1900 na po.

 

We are asking for your kind help and emotional and financial support and prayers. The Thoughtskoto family ay may sponsored project exclusively para makapagpurchase ang isang Ka-Blogs ng plane ticket, makauwi at makuha ang mga anak niya.

Ito po ang mga Listahan at photo ng mga TV SERIES,

 

meron po kasi kaming original na mga copy ng mga ito, at bibigyan namin kayo ng kopya with subtitle kapag bumili kayo nito at ang lahat ng proceeds mapupunta kay Twitch na account.

For more info pwede niyo pong kontakin at YM si Twitch (pati na rin pagbigay ng code ng Western Union Deposits and donations) or tawagan niyo po ako sa (+966)56-367-7487

or YM niyo rin po ako

Ito po ay isang kawang gawa, public service ng Thoughtskoto sa isang batang ina na walang hangad kundi mabigyan ng maaya ayang kinabukasan ang mga anak, at kabayan na nangangailangan ng tulong. Sana po’y matulungan niyo siya, at ang project na ito sa pamamagitan ng pagpakalat ng copy sa email or sa mga kaibigan.

(Maraming maraming salamat po sa very positive na response ninyo. Hinding hindi po makakalimutan ni Ms. Twitch ang inyong tulong. Today, I am truly proud to be a Filipino Expats/OFW blogger, nagdadamayan kahit saang sulok ng mundo)

Let us leave you a quote that will surely touch your hearts.

"Love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity, and ought to be manifested by those who aspire to be the sons/daughters of God. A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the 'lives of others'..." 

 ©2009 THOUGHTSKOTO

YANAH: Friend, Ofw, and Kablogs,

ito po ang simula kung bakit tinuturing ko siyang kaibigan... 

at saludo din ako kagaya ng pagsaludo ni

KOSA

~yAnaH~ said...

im sorry but i beg to disagree on this one:
"Naisip ko lang I think yung isang reason na iniiwan ng mga magagandang lalaki ang kanilang mga asawa dahil seguro hindi na ito nagpapaganda, laspag na sa wikang kanto."
 hindi lahat ng mga babaeng iniiwan ng mga asawa nila eh dahil sa losyang na sila. meron lang talagang mga lalaking sadyang tinatamaan ng kagaguhan (sorry for the word) at nagagawang mang-iwan when in fact, sila naman ang nagsimula ng lahat..
 i asked for a loving husband and a lovely family...what did i get?
i got a pocketful of kunsumisyon, quite a handfull of wrinkles plus the fact that "he" left us...
 kaya ngayon, i dont ask anything at all... nadala na ako.. being disappointed and hurt once is already enough...
napahaba... chureee... nacarried away

Mr. Thoughtskoto said...

Yanah, Thank you for the comment.sabi ko "naisip ko lang" now I know na mali din yung naisip ko kasi you experience it talaga. 
 Kahit guy ako, I admit meron talagang mga lalaki na ganun. In fact iniwan din ang nanay ko ng tatay ko 6 years old pa lang ako. 
 But its not over, right? 
 You won't give up because you failed once. Hope is constant. Somewhere out there, sometime, youll find the right one. The one that you're asking...
 hehe, para na ba akong pari...
 But hey thanks for dropping by!

~yAnaH~ said...

magic carpet poh kaya? meron?
kung meron.. pwede po kayang hiramin? pang bukas lang hahaha
 galing galing naman..
i always admired those guys na talagang naglalaan ng time para sa family.. naglalaan ng time in being a father and a husband...

Mr. Thoughtskoto said...

Yanah, Oo nga noh. Magic carpet ni Aladdin. Regarding the dada/hubby thing, thanks. Ill take that as a compliment ha. hehe. I appreciate more people like you who will sacrifice to be away from home, and your loveones esp the kids just for their future. 

sa post na  

~yAnaH~ said...

i dont know why naluha ako dito..
wala akogn ibang masabi kundi yun lang...

 ~yAnaH~ said...

hmmmm u might have to remove me na poh dito sa kablogs list mo, ill be goin home soon.. for good...

******************************************************

In less than a month na patuloy ko na pagsubaybay ng blog ni Ms. Yanah, nakilala ko sia at naging Kablogs. Marami akong blog na binabasa araw araw, at sa kababasa ko ng mga blog ninyo, pakiramdam at pakiwari ko'y matatalik ko kayong kaibigan. Sa ayaw man ninyo't sa gusto, wala kayong paki kung pingsisiksikan kong maging kaibigan kayo.

May ibang ibig sabihin ang paghanga at pag-iidolo. Ito'y mga bagay na nafefeel mo kung meron kang nagugustuhan o yun na nga, hinahangaan sa isang tao or blogero. Marami akong inaadmire, marami akong iniidolo sa blogosphere, marami akong blog na nababasa't nagbibigay saya at inspiration. 

pero merong mga taong gusto mong maging 

kaibigan, 

kadamay

kaugnay

kapamilya

kapuso

kaibigan.

Since I started the Thoughtskoto and organized the search project for Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards, at masimulan ang aggregating site na KABLOGS

marami akong nakilalang Pinoy na Bloggers sa halos lahat na yata ng mga kontinente ng mundo.

After all yan ang pinakapurpose kung bakit ako nagblog, magkaroon ng maraming kaibigan, 

nevermind the number of visitors visiting their blogs, it doesn't matter to me,

never mind the lay-out and social bookmarking they've been listed,

or the nature of their jobs, or the status of their lives,

it don't care.

Every blog I read, or visited or commented, 

means I am reaching out for friendship.

Thank you to Yanah. You're one of them. 

You're one of the Pinoy Bloggers who in one way or another touches our lives for good.

Yes, we admire you. After your telling of the terrible experiences you been through, 

and after making us laugh or feel sad with your stories, 

making us mad or kilig with your entries,

in less than a month, you left an impression to me and I guess to others too that

YOU ARE INDEED A GREAT MOTHER TO YOUR 'INAKAYS' 

(to borrow your term of kids)

YOU ARE INDEED A REAL AND TRUE FRIEND not just to 

KOSA (oytttttt) and JEN and POGI

but to us, your fellow Kablogs. 

Yung iba, dudugtungan na lang sa mga comment. hehe

Kahit nasa Pinas ka na, magblog ka pa rin, mamimimiss mo rin kami. hehe. I won't delete your site link sa blogsite para maalala ka namin, at masubaybayan ka pa rin namin.

©2008 THOUGHTSKOTO