POEA: Training Fee For Domestic Helpers Should Only be P7,000

Training centers in the Philippines should charge no more than P15,000 to Filipino domestic workers before their deployment abroad, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration said.

Speaking at a dialogue at the Hong Kong University, former POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said Technical Education and Skills Development Authority told him the basic training for domestic helpers should cost only P7,000 and P15,000 for those that include board and lodging, according to Hong Kong News report.

Cacdac, who was recently appointed as administrator of Overseas Worker Welfare Administration, urged those who paid more than the prescribed fees to file a formal complaint so they can recover their money.

“Ang sabi ng TESDA, humigit kumulang P7,000 lang dapat ang training costs. Kung merong dormitoryo, humigit kumulang P15,000 kung may board at lodging,” Cacdac said during the HKU dialogue, organized by the United Filipinos in Hong Kong.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III was also present and former OWWA administrator Rebecca Calzado.

He added that testing and assessment costs should only be P400.

Four employment agencies, Cacdac said, were recently shut down after found collecting excessive fees from the workers they helped deploy.

“Kayat ang gagawin natin, kung meron kayong sumbong at reklamo—tulad nung isang araw sa shelter na sinasabi P30,000 ang siningil sa training—idulog niyo po sa amin at kakasuhan natin,” Cacdac said.

“Marami pong pending cases tayo ngayon at iniimbestigahan namin ang mga recruitment agencies,” he added.

FDHs who paid excessive training fees can file their complaints at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Admiralty.

Labor Attaché Jalilo Dela Torre urged FDHs to file complaints against Hong Kong agencies that collect fees that amount to more than the “10 percent of their salary” allowed by law.