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| The pregnant Filipina was terminated before she could inform her employer about her condition |
A 26-year-old Filipina domestic helper who found out she’s
pregnant after losing her job is stranded in Hong Kong due to the pandemic, but
has found a warm adoptive home and family as she anticipates her baby’s birth this
month.
Just a few months back, she was distressed by her sudden
loss of employment and unexpected pregnancy that were compounded by her
boyfriend’s refusal to recognize paternity, Alexandria
A kind, supportive friend led the expectant mother to PathFinders,
a nongovernmental organization that lends support to vulnerable migrant women
and their children.
The NGO offered a shelter to Alexandria
Alexandria said her contract was terminated by her employer after
nearly one and a half years serving the household, but did not give the reason
for her dismissal.
“It was my first time to work in Hong Kong. My employer
didn’t know that I was pregnant. This is my first time to have a baby, so I didn’t
know that I was pregnant,” Alexandria
She said it was only on Mar 3, when her monthly period was delayed,
that she went to see a doctor for a checkup. The finding that she was pregnant
jolted her.
But a friend advised her to tell her mother the truth, and
was surprised by the outcome.
“So, I told my Mom and she said she was happy for me and for
my baby,” Alexandria said.
Acceptance and forgiveness by her mother lifted Alexandria
Alexandria said she wanted to go back to the Philippines and
give birth there, but she was prevented from doing so by the Covid-19 lockdown
in the country.
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| PathFinders lecture to migrant mothers about their rights |
Kuma Chow, senior communications manager at the NGO, said Alexandria
had obtained a recognizance paper from the Immigration Department so she could
stay legally in Hong Kong while she couldn’t fly home due to the lockdown and
her being too pregnant.
Except for the guarantee that they won’t get arrested for
overstaying in Hong Kong , migrant mothers on
recognizance still find the going tough as they are not eligible for public
healthcare and are prohibited from taking up work.
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“Costs are top of their worries very often,” Chow said. “Generally,
we help clients by referral to Equal Justice Hong Kong for legal assistance,
including paternity claims or labor disputes.”
Chow said Alexandria
For now, Alexandria
“Maybe after the lockdown, I can go back home and take care
of my baby,” she said.
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