2 Pinoy ‘discount’ maids in Singapore back home

MANILA, Philippines - Two Filipino household service workers (HSWs) believed to be among those being peddled in Singapore malls at “discounted” rates arrived in Manila Tuesday.

Louvette Seguerra and Gina Limpag were repatriated after Philippine labor officials found them at the Bukit Timah Shopping Center.

“They were among the five HSWs found by officials of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) inside the mall,” Baldoz said.

She said Seguerra arrived in Singapore in November 2013 and had worked for two employers.

Limpag, on the other hand, arrived in Singapore last March.

Baldoz said the foreign recruitment firm Homekeeper Agency settled Seguerra’s claim of S$1,676 or more than P58,000.

The company returned Limpag’s air fare and placement fee of S$724 (P25,338) before their repatriation.

POLO officials in Singapore are still looking into the case of the three other Filipino HSWs.

The government earlier suspended the accreditation of Homekeeper for its alleged involvement in the peddling of Filipino workers displayed in Singapore malls.

The recruitment company has been ordered to bring the Filipino HSWs under their care to the Philippine embassy in Singapore.

Baldoz said the Budget Maid Agency, which is not accredited with POLO-Singapore, and other agencies involved in the same scheme had been referred to the Singapore Ministry of Manpower.

“Singapore officials had assured the Philippine embassy that they will look into the matter,” the labor chief said.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration yesterday summoned the officials of four POEA-licensed agencies in the Philippines that are affiliated with Homekeeper Agency.