Hong Kong: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has partnered with the Hong Kong Police Force to strengthen the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) amid an alarming surge in debt-related distress and suicide cases among them. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac announced that the DMW is intensifying support initiatives, particularly for OFWs burdened by unmanageable debt and predatory lending practices abroad, specifically in the Chinese special administrative region.

According to Philippines News Agency, the collaboration with the Hong Kong Police aims to address the growing number of cases involving OFWs trapped in high-interest loans. Cacdac explained that while a 48-percent interest rate is legal in Hong Kong, the DMW is actively pursuing harassers in collaboration with the local police. The initiative is in response to increasing concerns over the mental health challenges faced by migrant workers in Hong Kong, who have been targeted by aggressive debt collection and harassment from informal lenders.

In a Senate hearing, Senator Raffy Tulfo disclosed the rising cases of suicide among OFWs linked to unmanageable debt, with statistics indicating that six OFWs in Hong Kong committed suicide in 2023, five in 2024, and one case recorded as of April. Cacdac noted that these incidents were primarily due to the burden of high-interest loans. 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. These loan sharks often employ agents who harass borrowers, exacerbating the psychological impact.

To address the root of the problem, the DMW is integrating financial education into its Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS), warning OFWs about high-interest loans and offering strategies for debt management and avoidance of multiple borrowings. Moreover, the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will soon launch a 24/7 hotline service to provide immediate assistance to distressed OFWs and their families. The hotline, to be manned by 30 trained former OFWs, will operate from the DMW One-Stop Shop Action Center in Makati City. Cacdac emphasized that this service is more than just a hotline; it represents a two-way line of care, with proactive outreach to OFWs.