The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has joined forces with the Hong Kong Police Force to protect overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) facing severe financial stress and mental health issues due to debt-related harassment.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac confirmed the partnership, citing a sharp rise in cases of OFWs trapped in loans with extremely high interest rates. “Unfortunately, in Hong Kong, a 48-percent interest rate is legal,” Cacdac said in a PNA report. “However, we are actively pursuing harassers in collaboration with the Hong Kong police.”
The move follows data shared during a Senate hearing showing that at least 12 OFW suicides in Hong Kong over the past two years were linked to debt. Senator Raffy Tulfo noted six cases in 2023, five in 2024, and one as of April this year.
“Many victims were trapped in debt caused by informal lenders charging legal interest rates of up to 48 percent in Hong Kong, leaving low-income workers struggling to repay,” the DMW said. “These loan sharks often employ agents who harass borrowers, exacerbating the psychological impact.”
To prevent further cases, the DMW will incorporate financial literacy modules into its Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) to warn OFWs about the risks of high-interest loans and educate them on debt management.
Additionally, the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) are set to roll out a 24/7 hotline to assist distressed OFWs and their families. The hotline will be operated by 30 trained former OFWs at the DMW One-Stop Shop Action Center in Makati City.
“This is more than just a hotline. It’s a two-way line of care—our OFWs won’t only be calling us, but we’ll also be proactively reaching out to them,” Cacdac emphasized.
