In response to the letter by Wayne Shen (South China Morning Post, December 30), we wish to clarify that the placement fee is paid for by the Filipino job applicant to the private recruitment agency in the Philippines for their services in finding them employment in Hong Kong.
This amount is not being charged or collected by the Philippine government, as was erroneously insinuated by Mr Shen.
Recruitment agencies are encouraged not to charge placement fees and should shift the burden of collecting the cost of their services from prospective foreign employers. In any event, the placement fee should in no case exceed an amount equivalent to one month's salary.
If the applicants are able to find employment in Hong Kong on their own without the assistance of a private recruitment agency, there is no need for them to pay any placement fee as the applicant can process the contract on her own under the direct hire (name hire) system.
Moreover, when it is the Philippine government, through the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, that undertakes recruitment and placement under a government-to-government hiring arrangement, the job applicant does not pay any placement fees.
VICTORIA S. BATACLAN