{"id":12235,"date":"2020-03-28T10:18:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-28T02:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/domestic-helper\/coronavirus-polo-service-suspension\/"},"modified":"2025-11-15T03:30:35","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T19:30:35","slug":"coronavirus-polo-service-suspension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/en-ph\/coronavirus-polo-service-suspension\/","title":{"rendered":"Suspension of Some Services at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) Hong Kong Due to Coronavirus"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><p>In reaction to the Coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) has suspended some of its services. As a result, the processing of foreign domestic helpers contracts is being affected. These changes are in effect until further notice.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/en-ph\/coronavirus-polo-service-suspension\/#Agency_required_to_process_finished_and_special_cases_contracts\" >Agency required to process finished and special cases contracts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/en-ph\/coronavirus-polo-service-suspension\/#First-time_helpers_not_available\" >First-time helpers not available<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/en-ph\/coronavirus-polo-service-suspension\/#Contract_renewal_with_notarisation\" >Contract renewal with notarisation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/en-ph\/coronavirus-polo-service-suspension\/#Limited_assistance_to_online_processing_of_OEC\" >Limited assistance to online processing of OEC<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/en-ph\/coronavirus-polo-service-suspension\/#Conciliation_meetings_suspended\" >Conciliation meetings suspended<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/en-ph\/coronavirus-polo-service-suspension\/#You_might_also_be_interested_in\" >You might also be interested in:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Agency_required_to_process_finished_and_special_cases_contracts\"><\/span>Agency required to process finished and special cases contracts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Previously, domestic helpers with a <strong>finished contract<\/strong> or a <strong>special case contract<\/strong> (with ID522 letter) and their new employer can process the hiring by themselves without using an agency. However, they will now need to use an agency to process the employment. Hence, the situation now is that the hiring of a domestic helper with any types of contract except contract renewal (hiring the same helper) <strong>will require an agency to process.<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"First-time_helpers_not_available\"><\/span>First-time helpers not available<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Notarization of employment contracts is <strong>suspended<\/strong> for first-time domestic helpers. As the Hong Kong Immigration Department requires the employment contract of first-time Filipino domestic workers to be notarised by POLO, the employment of these first-time is <strong>not available<\/strong> at the moment.<\/p>\n<p>We advise you to hire domestic helpers with a finished contract or a terminated contract. Click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/find-domestic-helpers\/results?c=hong-kong\">here<\/a> to search for domestic helpers in Hong Kong.\n<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Contract_renewal_with_notarisation\"><\/span>Contract renewal with notarisation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Notarization of employment renewal contracts is <strong>suspended<\/strong>. The good news is domestic helpers can now <strong>skip the contract notarization process<\/strong> and <strong>go directly to Hong Kong Immigration to apply for their new visa. <\/strong>Employers can also save HK$280 for the Verification Fee (HK$80.00) and the Authentication Fee (HK$200.00).<\/p>\n<p>See also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/domestic-helper\/coronavirus-government-fdh-arrangement\">the latest update on contract extension and visa extension.<\/a>\n<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Limited_assistance_to_online_processing_of_OEC\"><\/span>Limited assistance to online processing of OEC<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Assistance to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bmonline.ph\/\">BM Online processing of OEC<\/a> is <strong>suspended<\/strong> for those who already registered and returning to the same employer.  Assistance <strong>remains normal<\/strong> for those going for a vacation for the first time and transferring to a new employer.\n<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conciliation_meetings_suspended\"><\/span>Conciliation meetings suspended<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Holding of conciliation meetings between employers and domestic helpers is <strong>suspended<\/strong> except ones that were already scheduled.<\/p>\n<p>For more details, please refer to these notices put out by POLO: <a href=\"https:\/\/yoopies-cms.cdn.prismic.io\/yoopies-cms\/0106b158-4452-49b0-ae82-2f1e7d04db02_SUSPENSION-OF-SOME-POLO-SERVICES.pdf\">22 March Advisory<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/images.prismic.io\/yoopies-cms\/5549451a-b527-4026-8e71-4f92f1a7b6d1_SUSPENSION-OF-SOME-POLO-SERVICES+2.jpg?auto=compress,format\">23 March Advisory<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"You_might_also_be_interested_in\"><\/span><strong>You might also be interested in:<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/domestic-helper\/filipino-visa-application\">Visa Application for Filipino Domestic Helpers<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/domestic-helper\/contract-renewal\">Domestic Helper Contract and Work Visa Renewal<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/domestic-helper\/types-of-contract\">Types of Domestic Helper Contract<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/domestic-helper\/employment-contract-regulations\">Domestic Helper Employment Contract Regulations<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\" https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/yoopies-cms2faa142d68-caff-4847-80a8-665c74e8064b-copyoflookingforadomestichelperinhongkong-28129.jpg\" alt=\"search for a domestic helper at HelperChoice now! \" \/><\/figure>\n<p><a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/find-domestic-helpers\/results?c=hong-kong\">Search Now! \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In reaction to the Coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) has suspended some of its services. As a result, the processing of foreign domestic helpers contracts is being affected. These changes are in effect until further notice. Agency required to process finished and special cases contracts Previously, domestic helpers with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"description":"COVID-19 service changes at POLO Hong Kong affect contract processing, renewals, and OEC support. Check the latest updates and employer guidance.","title":"Suspension of Some Services at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) Hong Kong Due to Coronavirus - HelperChoice Blog"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[612],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-job-application"],"blocksy_meta":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12235"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12235\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12236,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12235\/revisions\/12236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helperchoice.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}