You have submitted an FOI request
Date: Oct. 25, 2020, 10:46 a.m.
Your request is already in review
Date: 2020-10-30 14:38:04.000000
Your request was denied
Date: 2020-11-25 10:36:04.000000
How was your request?
Published by Department of Labor and Employment(DOLE) on Oct. 25, 2020.
Requested from DOLE by G. Graciadas at 10:46 AM on
Oct. 25, 2020.
Purpose: Public interest
Date of Coverage: 01/01/2020 - 10/25/2020
Tracking no: #DOLE-934737311715
It has come to my attention that POLO-HK has implemented (without notice to the public) a policy whereby individuals who do not have their Philippines Passport on them are not allowed to receive any assistance or file complaints against errant employment agencies. As a result, many agencies are directly or indirectly holding passports in order to prevent any complaints from being submitted against them at POLO-HK. I would like to receive a copy of POLO's policy denying assistance to individuals who have HKID's but have a passport withheld by the agency or employer.
October 30, 2020 Dear Grace A., Thank you for your request dated Oct 25, 2020 under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch, for POLO-HK Policy Denying Assisting to Trafficking Victims When the Agency Unlawfully Holds Passports. We received your request on Oct 25, 2020 and will respond on or before Nov 13, 2020 10:46:32 AM, in accordance with the Executive Order's implementing rules and regulations. Should you have any questions regarding your request, kindly contact me using the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://www.foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHgsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEURPTEUtOTM0NzM3MzExNzE1DA, for request with ticket number #DOLE-934737311715. Thank you. Respectfully, Liezel S. Villamorel FOI Officer
Dear Ms. Graciadas: This refers to your query entitled: "POLO-HK Policy Denying Assisting to Trafficking Victims when the agency unlawfully holds passports". Please find below the response of POLO-Hong Kong for your kind reference: The requirement that the complainant must have their Philippine passport in filing complaints is not a requirement of POLO-HK but rather the requirement by the Administrative and Judicial bodies conducting adjudication that the complaint must be under oath and that under the notary law, the affiant must present a government issued ID which is also been adopted by the PCG-HK before the sworn complaint will be notarized and in overseas, the most that the OFWs can present is the Philippine passport. Thank you. Respectfully yours, Director Alice Q. Visperas, ILAB FOI Decision Maker