Primer On The POEA Policy Guidelines For Household Service Workers (HSWs) Bound For Hong Kong ONLY

11 February 2007

1. POEA package of protection and welfare enhancement reforms for HSWs effective 16 December 2006

• Minimum deployable age of 23
• Possession of TESDA NC2
• Holder of OWWA Certificate of Orientation /Competency on Language and Culture
• Prohibition on collection of placement fee from HSW whether done prior to their departure or on-site salary deduction

 

2. COVERAGE: All package reforms shall apply to:

• Newly hired/first timer HSWs
• PRE-TERMINATED*/RETURNING HSWs
• Previously worked in Hong Kong or in other country WITHOUT having completed/finished one employment contract term

 

3. EXEMPTED HSWs from the coverage

   • FULL EXEMPTION
     • Newly hired/first timer/ pre- terminated* HSWs
     • Visas issued BEFORE 16 December 2006; or
     • Contracts processed under job orders registered at the POEA before 16 December 2006; or

     • Contracts verified by POLO-HK BEFORE 16 December 2006

     (provided processed at POEA before 01 March 2007)

     * Those pre-terminated HSWs WITHOUT ID 522 from Immigration Department of Hong Kong and those processed under Name / Direct Hire Program

     • Vacationing HSWs or those presently working with existing employment contracts
     • Returning HSWs to Overseas Jobs
     • Previously worked in Hong Kong and returning back to Hong Kong with at least one FINISHED/ COMPLETED employment contract
   • PARTIAL EXEMPTION

   • Returning HSWs to Overseas Jobs

   • Previously worked in other country with at least one FINISHED/ COMPLETED employment contract but will now work in Hong Kong - exempted from age requirement and TESDA NC2 but required to attend orientation on Language and Culture provided for free by OWWA.

    

4. TESDA National Certificate (NC2)

   • Attestation of possession of four core skills competencies on house cleaning, laundry and ironing, preparations of hot and cold meals and provision of hot and cold food and beverage services

    

5. Requirements for the issuance of TESDA NC2

   • ASSESSMENT EITHER
     • Practical Test – an applicant with extensive experience either local or overseas may directly opt to go to any private TESDA accredited assessment centers located in strategic  places in the Philippines

     • Payment of Php1,000 as fee to private accredited assessment center for 3-4 hours procedure, the result to be issued immediately after the assessment;

     OR

     • Portfolio Assessment – for HSW who has at least 2 years recent work experience ONLY evaluation of documents to determine their authenticity and sufficiency in order to establish her competency

       • Payment of Php200 as fee to private accredited assessment center for evaluation of proper documents

   • Payment of Php100 for the certificate to TESDA Regional Office issuing NC2 for HSWs five (5) days after passing the assessment
   • Training of 216 hours REQUIRED ONLY AFTER applicant fails three (3) times in assessment /practical test with an interval of one month per assessment/test
     • Payment of Training fee to private TESDA accredited training center

      

6. OWWA Certificate of Orientation/ Competency  on Language and Culture

   • A 3-day country specific language and culture orientation provided FREE by OWWA
   • Mandatory to:
     • Newly hired/first timer HSW/pre-terminated**
     • HSW is returning to overseas jobs as in Hong Kong but with previous job in other countries with different language and culture than those in Hong Kong

      

7. No Placement Fee Policy

   • Prohibition on collection of placement fee FROM HSWs whether done prior to their departure or on-site salary deduction

** Without having completed/finished one employment contract term

All vacationing workers who were issued exit clearance or OEC at POLO-HK are cleared for deployment and should not be required to present the TESDA NC2 for HSW or OWWA Certificate of Orientation/Competency on Language and Culture at the airport.

For more information, please contact POEA Hotline: (632) 722-1144; (632) 722-1155; (632) 722-1187 or visit POEA website; www.poea.gov.ph or call POLO-Hong Kong Hotline: (852) 6080-832