HK seeks more migrant workers

MANILA, Philippines - Hong Kong is seeking more migrant workers as it opens career opportunities for Filipino engineers, entertainers, performers and architects.

In a statement, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz  said she received a report from the Department of Foreign Affairs that Hong Kong will undertake "various job-generating infrastructure and tourism projects this year."

"This is a fair chance for our Filipino workers, not only because they will have the opportunity to earn, but most importantly, the experience and the learnings they will acquire from working in Hong Kong will contribute to their knowledge and skills which they can use upon their return to the Philippines," she said.

Hong Kong is set to spend at least 17.9 billion Hong Kong dollars or some P93.7 billion to fund the construction of new railway lines, public hospital, a waste treatment facility, and an indoor stadium and velodrome.

The Hong Kong government is also planning to spruce up the Ocean park and the Hong Kong Disneyland.

Baldoz, however, reminded Filipinos to be "extra careful" in dealing with recruiters and urged applicants to check the website of the  Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to validate the legitimacy of a job order.

As of 2011, 174,851 Fillipinos were staying in Hong Kong.