00:00 So let's start off with the most important questions.
00:03 Do Hong Kong employers have to pay extra under the zero placement fee policy?
00:08 Okay, well, first, the placement of Indonesian domestic helpers here in Hong Kong
00:13 is directed within the government-to-government framework.
00:16 It means that the whole process is implemented in accordance with the Indonesian and Hong Kong prevailing laws and regulations.
00:24 Both governments' policy and regulations are designated to provide the standard minimum protections
00:30 not only for the Indonesian domestic helpers here in Hong Kong,
00:33 but also to assure that it accommodates the best interests of the Hong Kong employers.
00:39 And then, on a separate note, we cannot set aside the fact that there is a business-to-business relation
00:46 which is conducted by the Hong Kong and the Indonesian employment agencies.
00:50 And I think the question whether or not Hong Kong employers need to pay more for recruiting Indonesian domestic helpers
00:58 lies within this business-to-business relation.
01:01 But nevertheless, I can assure you that as long as Hong Kong employers engage in a process which is legitimate
01:09 and in accordance with the prevailing laws of Indonesia and Hong Kong, they will not have to pay extra.
01:15 So, can you walk us through the whole story of this dispute,
01:21 beginning from the employment agency Aspertake coming to the city and said that Hong Kong employers have to pay extra,
01:28 to the latest meeting, the acting council general with the secretary for labour and welfare, Chris Sun,
01:36 and the council general said no change to the cost structure of fee.
01:40 So, can you also elaborate on that?
01:42 Yes. So, there was a meeting between the representative of the Hong Kong and Indonesian employment agency here in Hong Kong.
01:50 And the meeting was purely to discuss about the business-to-business relation, as I mentioned before,
01:56 and both governments did not participate on the meeting.
02:01 And then, later on, the associations, the Aspertake, they request a meeting with the labour department of Hong Kong.
02:08 And then, before the meeting, the labour department of Hong Kong already coordinated with our consulate,
02:14 and we say that that meeting is not in coordination with our consulate,
02:20 and the association, the Aspertake, is not representing nor in coordination with the Indonesian government.
02:28 And later on, after the meeting between the labour department and the Aspertake,
02:34 the association, the Aspertake, they conduct a press briefing, elaborating their views, their aspirations,
02:42 on the whole process of placement of Indonesian domestic helpers here in Hong Kong.
02:47 And what has been stated by the association, by Aspertake, is not representing the Indonesian government position,
02:55 and it's also not in coordination with the Indonesian government system.
03:00 And I would like to take this opportunity to also share with the Hong Kong public,
03:04 that Aspertake is not the only Indonesian employment agency.
03:10 They're just one of many Indonesian employment agencies.
03:13 So, their views, their statements, are not representing the whole system,
03:19 it's not representing the government position or other Indonesian employment agencies,
03:25 with regard to the placement of Indonesian domestic helpers here in Hong Kong.
03:29 And I think we settled the issues during the meeting between the Secretary of Labour and Welfare
03:36 and with our acting consul general on August 10,
03:39 we clarified the issues that at the moment, both governments' policy and regulations
03:45 with regard to the placement of Indonesian domestic helpers in Hong Kong are consistent and it remains the same.
03:52 Serial placement fee policy has been enforced in Indonesia since 2020 and revised last year.
03:59 So, in hindsight, why are Hong Kong employers and agencies only made aware of this amendment at this moment?
04:07 Yes, for your information, our consulate, representing the Indonesian government,
04:13 we always have a regular meeting with the representative of Hong Kong employment agency here in Hong Kong.
04:19 So, we have an annual meeting where we took that opportunity to inform them,
04:24 to update them with every development of regulations, laws, procedure, policy,
04:31 even with the latest issues that have been developed in Indonesia.
04:35 So, I think here it's not the issues of awareness, but it's much more on the interpretations.
04:42 Because nothing has changed since 2020, until now, the practice remains the same.
04:48 The mechanism remains the same and the laws, regulations, procedure, policy are in place.
04:55 So, I think it's just much more of a reactive response from Hong Kong public,
05:02 from Hong Kong employers with the speculative statement made by the association, made by the Aspataki.
05:09 So, I believe here it's not the issue of awareness, but it's just much more of a response from speculative news.
05:17 The dispute has actually got both Hong Kong and Indonesian agencies involved in more sort of like a fight.
05:25 So, what would the Indonesian consulate suggest to strengthen the monitoring and the management of the agency on both sides?
05:34 Well, I do believe that the system, the laws and regulations, and also the mechanism are sufficient.
05:41 It's already in place and enforced.
05:43 Nevertheless, of course, challenges will always remain.
05:46 And it's the duty of both governments to make sure that we can catch up with every challenge,
05:52 with every dynamic that rises at the moment.
05:56 And I think with the new pace, with the new dynamic, especially post-pandemic,
06:03 I think, and both governments agree that we need to recalibrate once again.
06:08 We need to sit down to monitor, to evaluate the whole process
06:13 and see if we can maximize, we can progress all the modalities that we have right now into a better place.
06:22 Thank you so much, Mr. Clemens. That clears so much of the mist.
06:27 And thank you for joining us today.
06:30 Happy to.
06:30 Thank you.
06:32 Thank you.
06:33 [END]
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