Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun (right) called on Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Enrique A. Manalo (left) during his visit to Manila, the Philippines on Jan 9, 2023 to exchange views on protecting foreign domestic helpers working in Hong Kong. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)
HONG KONG – Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun met with several ranking Philippine officials in Manila and explored means to strengthen collaboration on the protection of Filipino domestic workers in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Sun, who was in Manila on a three-day visit from Sunday to Tuesday, paid a courtesy call on Philippine Secretary of Migrant Workers Susan Ople and on Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo to exchange views and discuss issues of mutual interest.
Sun updated the senior officials on initiatives to enhance protection of employment rights and welfare of FDHs as well as regulation of employment agencies, and explored areas to strengthen collaboration
He also called on Officer-in-charge of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Eduardo Punay and the Secretary of Labor and Employment Bienvenido Laguesma, according to a government statement.
“Mr Sun reaffirmed the great importance Hong Kong attaches to protecting foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) and appreciated their contribution to Hong Kong families and society,” the statement reads.
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Sun updated the senior officials on initiatives to enhance protection of employment rights and welfare of FDHs as well as regulation of employment agencies, and explored areas to strengthen collaboration.
A series of arrangements has been implemented since early 2020 to assist FDHs and their employers to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. The full relaxation of inbound control arrangements since Dec 29 will enable more FDHs to come to Hong Kong to work while some working in Hong Kong can return to their home countries for a break.
On Tuesday afternoon, Sun and his delegation visited a training facility under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, where they took a closer look at the training of care workers in the Philippines and its scope of competencies, quality assurance and recruitment arrangements.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun watches trainees changing bedding for bedridden elderly persons at a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority training facility during his visit to Manila, the Philippines on Jan 10, 2023 to take a closer look at the training of care workers. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)
While in the Philippines, Sun also met with representatives of the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc, the Friends of the Philippines Foundation and Chinese business leaders in the Philippines and updated them on the latest situation of Hong Kong and the array of new measures to attract talents set out in the Chief Executive's Policy Address.
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He introduced the details of the Top Talent Pass Scheme to them and sought their support to publicize the HKSAR’s campaign to attract global talents.
Before concluding his visit, Sun had lunch with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian and updated him on the latest labor market and economic situation in Hong Kong. Sun also gave interviews to international and local media agencies in Singapore and the Philippines on the achievements of the visit and the unique advantages of having the strong support of the motherland while being closely connected to the world, telling the good stories of Hong Kong.