HONGKONG — Families of Overseas Filipino Workers here are worried on two things, their security and economy back home, but every OFW assures them-they are okay.
The protest in Hongkong started in April and has yet to end, a thing that worries not only OFWs here but their families.
Despite the protest, OFWs here work with no disruption, they still can move freely, they are advised to stay away from protest activity especially during weekends.
Mylene Tulab said, “May protesta, pero hindi naman kami pumupunta doon, alam namin paano umiwas, ang mas nakakatakot yong mawalan ka ng trabaho, hindi yong protesta (There’s protest, but we are not going there, we stay away-what we fear is loosing out job-not the protest).
Despite the sporadic protest, the OFWs continue to work and enjoy their Sunday off, this time in different parks near their job sites while other prefers island visit.
The Sunday gathering in Central district is still alive but the OFWs limit their events, because most of the protest happen in the afternoon in the busy districts.
Hilda Castillon, who has been working 12 years here said “We know how to protect ourselves, our employers always remind us to be safe what we worry is the economic impact of the protest to our families, the dollar exchange affects remittance.”
There are those who feared they might lost their jobs because their employers might relocate but they are hoping, the protest will end one day soon.
NewsLine spent time with two house on Sunday morning with OFW in Kowloon, everyone says they are fine and they know how to protect themselves.
There are hundreds of thousands OFWs here and their families back home are dependent on their remittances, despite the protest, everything seems normal and everyone attends to their daily routine.-Editha Z. Caduaya
