Filipino migrants groups in Hong Kong plan to submit a petition to the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Hong Kong to demand that its office open and provide services on Saturdays. They will present the petition to Department of Migrant Workers secretary Hans Cacdac who is scheduled to visit Hong Kong this coming June 12. The Filipino Migrant Workers Union-Hong Kong, United Filipinos in Hong Kong (Unifil-Migrante HK), Methodist International Church-HK, Filipino Christian Community, and Iglesia Filipina Independiente HK Fellowship led the gathering of support for the petition.

According to Unifil-Migrante, Saturday is the second most common day off for Filipino domestic workers, next to Sunday. This is evident in the large gatherings of workers in Central Park and in various church ministries and congregations throughout Hong Kong.

“We are keenly aware that most employers do not permit domestic workers to leave the premises except on their designated rest days,” the group said. Thus, workers can go out only on these days to access consular services—-from inquiries, document processing, document verification, and obtaining an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC).

At present, the consulate is open only from Sunday to Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The groups hope that the consulate will change its schedule to ensure its services, especially for migrants who are distressed or facing critical concerns.

“Migrants play a crucial role in both Hong Kong and Philippine societies,contributing significantly to the economic, social, and cultural landscapes,” the group said. “we hope the government will demonstrate…that migrants are an integral part of the labor force and the broader Philippine society.”

The opening of the consulate on Sundays is also a result of the persistent efforts of various migrant organizations, including Unifil-Migrante, during the Arroyo regime.