The United Filipinos in Hong Kong (Unifil-HK) protested at the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong on March 1 to condemn the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) for increasing its verification fee by 400%.

That day, the verification fee rose from HK$80 (₱595) to HK$320 (₱2,380). The “verification fee” certifies that a migrant worker’s employment contract complies with Hong Kong’s labor and immigration laws. The increase covers the contract verification for newly hired workers. Employers are supposed to shoulder the fee but they usually deduct it from the worker’s salary.

Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong currently number around 190,000 to 200,000, mostly employed as domestic workers. About 55–57% of all migrant domestic workers in the territory are Filipino.

“This is clearly another form of extortion. The Marcos Jr regime shows no restraint in treating OFWs as profit sources instead of ensuring proper protection and improving services for them,” the group said.

The group added that the MWO gave no clear reason for the fee hike, even as the Department of Migrant Workers’ budget increased this year. The agency also failed to consult migrants regarding the new policy.

“It’s like rubbing salt on a wound, especially when those involved in massive corruption in the country remain unpunished,” the group continued.

“We will not stay silent amid this new extortion. We will keep protesting until this and other forced government fees are scrapped,” the group concluded.