As hundreds of overseas Filipino workers have made refund claims for illegal training fees after it was clarified that they are not required to undergo training, workers in Hong Kong shared that they had been forced to undergo expensive training before they came and they were kept inside a training centre for days until the training ended
S ince it is my first time to apply for a job abroad, I did not know that it was illegal to collect training fees from a job applicant. I was also told by friends who already worked in Hong Kong that a training course is required so I did not check and just went along with the procedures set by the agency. I borrowed money to pay the training fee of 25,000 pesos ($4,000). I gave a downpayment of 10,000 pesos ($1,612) when I entered the training centre. Before entering, they checked and counted all my belongings one by one and listed them down. In the training centre we were told how to clean the toilet, how to use the appliances as they said the appliances used in Hong Kong are different, how to cook basic Chinese food, take care of newborn babies and iron clothes. When it came to our lunch and dinner we shared the food we cooked during the training. For breakfast we were given only bread and we had to buy our coffee from a store inside the training centre as we were not allowed to leave the premises. They also kept our mobile phones.
After the tenth day we were brought to TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) for the assessment. I passed the assessment and after leaving the training centre I was asked to report to the agency and was charged 8,500 pesos ($1,361) to speed up the processing of my papers. I asked for a receipt but they told me there was none.
— Racquel Batallones
When I discovered that I was charged a large amount for the training fee, I was very disappointed, felt deceived and helpless. Disappointed because I didn’t have enough money to pay all the charges. Twenty-five thousand Philippine pesos is a very large amount, but I didn’t have any choices. I had to pay it, otherwise the agency wouldn’t help me file my job application. I was compelled to pay the charges because of my desire to come to Hong Kong the soonest.
I was told that the TESDA Assessment is very important and is a requirement for overseas Filipino workers (OFW) applying job abraod. I had to learn and pass the trainings so that the application process could continue. If I failed in the assessment, I had to repeat until I pass. I had to attend lectures and demonstration sessions about how to set up the bed and the dining table, ironing, cooking, cleaning, look after babies and the elderly people. The instructor also gave advice regarding about characters building for us.
— Imejoy Fernandez
I had no idea that the training fee was illegal and I thought those charges were required as I applied for work abroad. I just wanted to grab any opportunity so I can work in Hong Kong. I was dismayed as I needed to pay a large sum. I paid 28,000 pesos ($4,491) for a training for the TESDA assessment and for learning Cantonese at the training centre. The staff in the centre were very strict and gave us little food for meals. We were asked to use towel only to cover our bodies when we take our baths for fear that we may escape. We were not allowed to leave the centre until we were able to memorise the Cantonese words taught to us. I also paid 3,500 pesos ($560) for a medical check up and was told that we need to have the check up twice so I paid another 3,500 pesos later. I also need to pay 7,500 pesos ($1,200) for our photos and video. The training provided by the agency focussed on Cantonese, which I found later not included in the TESDA assessment. Now when I have learned of many other kinds of illegal charges, I want to retrieve what was due to me. I will fight for my rights and get the refund.
— Joviflor Lompot
As an OFW for 12 years in Hongkong, every time I applied for a job here I need to pay an agency fee of around 60,000 pesos ($9,600). Honestly they were big burdens for me because the money that I used to pay was not from my own pocket. I borrowed from my relatives and friends and some charged ten per cent interest. I was just blind to amounts that I was charged as all I want was to leave for Hong Kong.
— Suraya Santos
I am against the illegal training fee by recruitment agencies. They should never take advantage of us. Poor applicants, like me, just carry the burden of big amount of fees because of our promise to our family to give them a better living.
I read on the advertisement that the agency don’t collect any placement fee. But before my flight, I paid a total of 55,000 pesos ($8,800) including a medical fee of 5,000 pesos ($800) an initial deposit of 7,000 pesos ($1,120) for training.
— Miriam Tabance
