Filipino training centres strengthen financial education for FDHs

Amid the government's push to tighten borrowing regulations for low-income individuals including foreign domestic helpers, some helper training centres in the Philippines have strengthened education on financial literacy.

From cleaning to cooking, these soon-to-be maids are undergoing the usual training required for foreign domestic helper work in Hong Kong.

But with the government's latest measure to tighten borrowing regulations for low-income individuals, trainees at this Filipino domestic helper training centre will also need to take classes on financial literacy.

Do not engage in borrowing money.

They ask for more money back.

Don't overspend like gadgets, jewellery, clothes -- you can buy it here, more cheaper.

Dolly, the course's instructor, said many of the maids who come from impoverished or remote territories in the Philippines often lack basic financial knowledge owing to their low levels of education.

She believes her classes can help improve their situation.

I advise them to keep a little amount of money in the bank so for future needs, just in case, family got sick or emergency needs, she doesn't need to borrow money from other people.

Renelyn, a trainee domestic helper, said she has friends in her same line of work who borrowed money in Hong Kong just for remittance purposes.

Sometimes Filipinos have a big heart -- they want to give, give, give.

For me, it's not good to borrow money when you're not capable also to pay for it.

Many Filipino maids who ended up borrowing money in the city often do so just to pay domestic helper agencies for their training and fees for body checks.

This as a Filipino agency suggested that employers in Hong Kong should cover this financial burden for the domestic workers.

I could say 95 percent will be trimmed down in applying for a loan.

The housemaid will not force themselves to borrow money.

Number two, the agency can recruit a highly qualified domestic helper.

But a former Philippine labour attache in the city was sceptical about local employers' willingness to cooperate with this measure.

He stressed more efforts should be placed into tackling illegal domestic helper agencies who abuse the system.

The Department of Migrant Workers of the Philippines should monitor agencies, and check if they are really passing on the fees to the workers.