FDH numbers drop to record low since pandemic began

       

Domestic helper does her marketing early to avoid crowds

Obstacles in coming to Hong Kong due to the Covid-19 pandemic have brought down the number of  Filipino domestic helpers by 9.06 percent to 187,002 last February, from 206,481 in February 2021, figures from the Immigration Department show.

This is the lowest number recorded since the coronavirus was first detected in Hong Kong more than two years ago. From a high of 219,728 recorded at the end of January 2020, there has now been an overall drop of 32,726 in the number of Filipino DHs in Hong Kong, or 14.89%. 

The decline was not limited to Filipinos, who had to face two flight bans and a number of airline flight suspensions during the period, as the total number of foreign domestic helpers fell by 10.4 per cent from 370,556 as of Feb. 28, 2021 to 332,184 this year.

From a high of 400,121 recorded in January 2020, the drop overall was double that for the Filipino DHs. As of the latest tally in February this year, the number fell to 332,184 or a loss of 67,937.

The Indonesian DH population slipped by 8.9 percent from 155,477 in February last year to 137,788, while the Indian ranks thinned by 16 per cent from 4,372 to 3,665. Other nationalities suffered a loss of 12 per cent from 4226 to 3729.

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With similar declines in the other nationalities, the Philippines retained the number one rank among FDH-sending countries, accounting for 56.3 per cent of all FDHs in Hong Kong this year, up slightly from 55.72 per cent in 2021.

The Filipinos began the year in review with a slight bump in numbers, rising from 206,481 in February, to 207,353 in March, and 207,055 in April.

From there, however, the number went steadily downhill, a result of the first flight ban that took effect on April 20, 2021.

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The Hong Kong government had initially banned for 14-days all incoming flights from the Philippines, India and Pakistan as; these countries were classified as “extremely high risk”. In addition, visitors who stayed in these countries for at least two hours in the past 21 days were not allowed to board planes bound for Hong Kong.

The two-week ban was extended, until it was lifted on Aug. 9, 2021, but only for those who had  been fully vaccinated and tested negative in RT-PCR test within 72 hours before their flights. 

But the number of Filipino DHs continued to decline at the rate of a thousand a month -- to 198,625 in August -- this time due to difficulties in booking  quarantine hotels, where they needed to spend 21 days after arrival.

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On Jan 5, 2022, Hong Kong announced its second two-week ban not just from the Philippines, India and Pakistan, but also from Australia, Canada, France, Britain and the United States, in response to the fifth wave of the pandemic -- the spread of the Omicron variant.

That month saw the number of Filipinos drop at the rate of two thousand monthly, hitting 189,887 in January 22 to 187,002 in February.

The new flight ban had since been extended to April 22, although Chief Executive Carrie Lam has hinted that it may be lifted soon.

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"While the demand for migrant domestic workers remains," said Eman Villanueva, vice chairman of the Filipino Migrant Workers' Union, "Filipinos were unable to take the job because of the flight bans."

He added: "We worry most for those who have spent so much to come to Hong Kong but remain stranded in the Philippines. They are mostly buried in debts because of the placement fees and other expenses they incurred but are unable to leave the country. Many employers are backing out and are just looking for applicants who are already in Hong Kong."

FMWU's Eman Villanueva

Villanueva also sees another reason for the  drop in FDH numbers.

"The number of OFWs in Hong Kong has been steadily decreasing since late 2019 at the height of the protest movement in Hong Kong. Some OFWs decided to go home for good fearing that the situation here will worsen. Some left because their employers left Hong Kong for good," Villanueva said.

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"When the pandemic started, the number of local residents losing their jobs also increased," he added.  "We also worry for those whose contracts were prematurely terminated as their employers become unemployed or decided to leave Hong Kong. 

"They are forced to go back home unprepared and most likely will remain unemployed because of the more serious economic situation in the Philippines brought about by months of lockdowns and failed pandemic response of the government," Villanueva said.

Domestic helper may be the first Filipino to die of Covid-19 in Hong Kong

By Leo A. Deocadiz 

Magelyn Distor Handoy, 53.

A domestic helper from Capiz is probably the first Filipino to succumb to the coronavirus in Hong Kong when she died a few minutes after midnight on March 6 at Caritas Medical Center in Sham Shui Po.

The official cause of death of Magelyn Distor Handoy, 53, has not yet been released but Bebelynn Rendon, a sister in law who talked to her by phone a day before she died, said Handoy had difficulty breathing when she told her she had tested positive for Covid-19.

She also said that Handoy's employer told her that she died of Covid-19.

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One of Handoy’s nieces, Abby D. Michael, echoed Rendon’s observation: “Friday nag-usap pa tayo nhe sabi mo ok klang kahit ramdam ko na nahihirapan kana magsalita (Last Friday we even talked and you said you were okay, although I felt that you were already having difficulty talking).”

However, Consul General Raly Tejada said: "We shall await the official notification from the HK authorities to determine the official cause of death. We will be also meeting with the employer tomorrow. Consulate is now coordinating with the family in Panitan, Capiz."

Handoy had her second jab of the Sinovac vaccine last July.

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Handoy, who arrived in Hong Kong in 2011 and lived with her last employers in Sham Shui Po where she took care of their two daughters, is survived by her husband, Richard and daughter, Faith.

In his post on her Facebook page, Richard said in Ilonggo that while it was painful to lose her and difficult to accept it, there was nothing they could do. He asked that she guide them always.

“Isa na lang napangabay namon nga makapuli na di ikaw kag matagaan ka namon sang disente nga lubong (Our only wish is that you can come home here so we can give you a decent burial),” he added.

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Her Facebook page also received condolence messages from relatives and friends.

Rendon said Handoy first complained of pain in her gums because of a broken denture. She was taken  to a doctor who prescribed medicines to stop the swelling and infection.

She later complained of abdominal pains, but since she had a history of fatty liver, she was given dietary advice. But the pain continued and when her employer noticed that her belly was becoming larger, she was taken to hospital by ambulance on Feb. 26. 

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She was released the next day, Rendon said, but went to the house of her employer's mother to stay away from the children she was taking care of. 

On March 5, Congen Tejada said, Handoy was again taken to Caritas after complaining of breathing difficulties. "She subsequently tested positive for Covid-19," he said. 

Rendon said that she went to Caritas that morning to visit Handoy and bring her Anlene, a milk product to help her cope with fatty liver. But she wasn't allowed to see her sister-in-law as she had by then tested positive for Covid-19.

At 12:36 am on March 6, Handoy died. 

Tejada said: "She passed away... while undergoing treatment at the hospital’s emergency department."

Rendon said she was calling Handoy that morning but she was no longer answering. She contacted Handoy’s employer, who said the police had earlier informed her of the death.

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FDH pinaalalahanan: Bantay laban sa pagtitipon-tipon magiging mas istrikto

Mas mahigpit daw ang gagawing pagbabantay sa mga puntahan ng FDH sa kanilang day-off.

Nagpaalalang muli ang gobyerno ng Hong Kong sa mga foreign domestc helper (FDH) na istriktong sumunod sa mga patakaran para maiwasang mahawa sa Covid-19 sa araw ng kanilang day-off, o masita at utusang magmulta ng mga nagbabantay.

Ito ang mga dapat tandaan:

• Kailangang naka-suot ng facemask sa lahat ng pagkakataong nasa publikong lugar.

• Dalawa na lang ang pwedeng magkumpol sa mga pampublikong lugar, na ibinaba mula apat.

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• Mga miyembro lang ng dalawang kabahayan o pamilya ang maaring magsama sa iisang lugar

• Ipinagbabawal na rin ang pagtitipon sa mga simbahan 

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Ayon sa Labour Department, kabilang sa mga magpapatupad ng bagong regulasyon ang mga tauhan ng Hong Kong Police Force, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Home Affairs Department at Leisure and Cultural Services Department. 

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Sila ay maglilibot sa may dalang sound system upang mag-broadcast ng mga paalala sa mga nakasanayan nang puntahan ng mga FDH, gaya ng Central, Tamar Park sa Admiralty, Victoria Park sa Causeway Bay, Tsuen Wan Park, ang footbridge malapit sa Fa Yuen Street sa Mong Kok at iba pa.

Mayroon silang mga kasama na may kapagyarihang manghuli ng mga lumalaban sa patakaran. Inaasahang masita, o parusahan ng multang $5,000, ang mga lumalabag sa patakaran.

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Sa isang press statement, sinabi ng Labour: "We remind FDHs to strictly observe the requirements and appeal to them to avoid gatherings (including those in boarding facilities), food sharing and other social activities on their rest days and holidays, and stay at home for rest as far as possible in order to safeguard their personal health and reduce the risk of infection. We also appeal to employers to explain the current special circumstances when discussing rest day arrangements with their FDHs and call for their mutual understanding."

Nilinaw din ng Labour na ayon sa Employment Ordinance, pwedeng magkasundo ang DH at employer na gawin ang dayoff sa ibang araw, basta ito ay nasa loob ng susunod na 30 araw. 

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Bawal rin pagtrabahuin ang isang DH sa araw ng pahinga nito.

Ang isang employer na nagpapatrabaho ng kanyang kasambahay sa araw ng pahinga na walang pahintulot nito, ay lumalabag sa Employment Ordinance at pwedeng ireklamo sa salang may parusang aabot sa $50,000, dagdag pa ng Labour. 

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Ipinaalala rin ng Labour sa mga FDH na hindi pa bakunado na may karapatan sila sa libreng bakuna upang maprotektahan nila hindi lang ang sarili kundi ang iba pa sa kanilang kabahayan. Pwedeng magpa-schedule sa COVID-19 Vaccination Programme website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk). 

Ang mga may tanong ay pwedeng tumawag sa FDH hotine sa 2157 9537, o magpadala ng email sa fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk o sa portal na itinayo para sa mga FDH (www.fdh.labour.gov.hk).

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HK posts a new record-high 625 Covid cases

By The SUN 

HK will implement the strictest gathering restrictions ever starting this Thursday

Hong Kong has logged 625 new Covid-19 infections Tuesday, surpassing the previous record of 614 cases posted only a day earlier.

Of the new cases, four were imported, while the rest were locally acquired, and judging from the recent trend, most were untraceable.

Speaking at today’s daily press briefing on the coronavirus situation, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection said that from yesterday’s record number of cases, about 450 were untraceable.

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She also said there were around 500 preliminary positive cases, indicating the Omicron-fueled spread of the coronavirus has yet to ease.

Chuang said many of today’s cases came from recent large-scale gatherings. At least 19 big clusters of more than 10 people were said to have led to a number of people getting infected. In at least one such case, 47 people tested positive.

“I am not even talking of small groups of less than 10 people,” Chuang said.

The surge from these gatherings led to the Executive Council to approve today a proposal from the government to ban cross-family mingling of more than two households starting on Thursday.

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Chuang said that of the 621 local cases, 15 carried the Delta variant, while the rest have Omicron.

Dr Larry Lee from the Hospital Authority said that as of 9am today, 1,853 Covid-19 patients were receiving treatment at various infection control centers and public hospitals.

One unvaccinated 84-year-old man is in critical condition while a 77-year-old woman who was previously listed as critical, is now in serious condition. Both are unavaccinated. Another patient, who is vaccinated, is also in serious condition.

The rest are all in stable condition.

People must use the LeaveHomeSafe app in most venues starting Feb 24

Lee said that while Omicron patients usually have only mild or no symptoms at all, others, especially the unvaccinated, can get very sick, so people should not be complacent.

Those who have yet to be vaccinated must do so immediately.

Director of Health Dr Ronald Lam said that a total of 2,600 were reported in the past two weeks, and 898 of them, or 34.5%, were unlinked.

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Most of the cases (85%) carried the Omicron variant while 5.8% were Delta cases. A big chunk of the cases, or 80%, had a Ct value of 30, indicating they were highly infectious.

Lam said that starting this afternoon, the Stay Home Safe Program, under which close contacts or contacts of close contacts are allowed to isolate at home for either four or 14 days, depending on their proximity to an infected person, has begun.

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As of noon today, 38 persons have been allowed to stay home and conduct self-monitoring by using the rapid antigen tests and checking their temperature daily.

But they must wear a wristband tracking device and should not have any contact with people outside of their homes. All deliveries to them from relatives and other individuals must be left at their doorsteps.

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Paano maiwasang malimas ng ibang tao ang pera mo sa bangko

Kung nakatanggap ka ng text sa iyong mobile phone o sa WhatsApp, na nagsasabing ito ay iyong bangko at may problema sa account mo, magduda ka na. Malamang ito ay “phishing” text.

Ang mga mensaheng ito – gaya ng pinakabagong kumakalat na mensahe na nagsasabing naka-freeze ang iyong account at nag-uutos na magpunta ka sa isang website sa pamamagitan ng hyperlink na nakasaad dito --  ay tinatawag na “phishing”, isang tangka na makuha ang impormasyon mo na pwedeng gamitin upang manakaw ang pera sa iyong account.

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Halos pare-pareho ang modus nila: Papadalhan ka ng mensahe na may problema sa iyong account at hihimukin kang magpunta sa isang website, para doon mag-log in. Dito mo maibubunyag ang iyong impormasyon gaya ng account number at password, sa pamamagitan ng pagfill-up ng form dito. 

Kapag nakuha na ang datos mo, madali nang buksan ang iyong internet bank account. Kung ito naman ay credit card, ang iyong number at ilan pang bang detalye ay pwede na nilang gamitin sa pag-shopping, na malalaman mo lang kapag sinisingil ka na ng bangko sa mga pinamili nila. 

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Isang Pilipinang residente ng Hong Kong na umuwi na sa Pilipinas ang nabiktima ng ganitong phishing operation. 

Nakatanggap daw siya ng email mula sa kanyang bangko na may problema sa kanyang account at hinihinging mag log-in siya sa website gamit ang “hyperlink” na nakasaad sa mensahe. 

Dahil hindi siya masyadong maalam sa internet ay pinabayaan niya ang dalagang anak na gawin ang sinabi sa emal. Nag log-in ang anak niya at malayang binigay ang kanyang account number at password, pero ang napuntahan pala nito ay isang pekeng website ng kanyang bangko.

Pagkatapos ang ilang araw ay nalaman niyang nalimas ang mahigit $600,000 mula sa kanyang account na naipon nila ng yumao niyang asawa simula pa noong sila ay nagtatrabaho sa Hong Kong.

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“Nagreklamo kami sa bangko namin, pero wala silang magawa dahil ang nagnakaw ay gumamit ng aming account number at tunay na password,” ika ng nawalan.

Ayon sa Hong Kong Monetary Authority, na nagsisilbing central bank dito, hindi gawain ng mga bangko na magpadala ng ganitong mga text message sa kanilang mga customer. Hindi rin nagtatanong ang bangko ng mga personal na detalye ng kanilang mga customer sa pamamagitan ng telepono, text o email. Hihingin lang ang mga impormasyon gaya ng account number at password, kung ang customer mismo ang tatawag sa Customer Service ng bangko o makakipag-transaksyon nang personal.

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Naglabas ng ganitong paalala ang HKMA matapos magbabala ang ilang bangko sa kanilang mga customer.

Halimbawa, ang Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) ay naglabas kamakailan ng paalala sa mga customer nito na huwag maniwala sa mga text message na nagsasabing ang kanilang credit card ay na-freeze at dapat ayusin sa nakalagay na web address.

Ipinaalala ng HSBC sa mga customer na magpunta lamang sa opisyal nilang website, http://www.hsbc.com.hk, kung magkikipag-transaksyon sa internet. Kung kailangan nila ng tulong, pwede silang tumawag sa 2233 3000.

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Naglabas din ng parehong patalastas ang DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited laban sa ganitong phishing operation.

Ayon sa HKMA, kung isa ka sa mga nagbigay ng iyong mga detalye sa ganitong raket, agad tumawag sa iyong bangko upang pigilan ang mga transaksyon na wala kang pahintulot. Pwede ka ring tumawag sa Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau ng Hong Kong Police Force sa 2860 5012.

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Cats, dogs eyed as possible Covid-19 carriers

Pets like cats have been found positive for Covid-19.

The government is now turning its attention to warning against pet cats and dogs as possible carriers of Covid-19.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said two pet cats from Sheung Shui tested positive for Covid-19 and were sent to quarantine on Friday.

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The two cases, which have not shown symptoms of the disease, were among the five domestic short-hair cats sent to AFCD after their owners were separarely found to be close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case. The AFCD said it will continue to closely monitor the cats and conduct follow-up testing.

The latest cases brought to 10 the number of cats that have tested positive for the virus. Another nine dogs have also tested positive.

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As this developed, AFCD reminded pet owners to adopt good hygiene practices (including hand washing before and after being around or handling animals, their food or supplies, as well as avoiding kissing them) and to maintain a clean and hygienic household environment.

“People who have taken ill should restrict contact with animals. If any changes in the health condition of pets are spotted, advice from a veterinarian should be sought as soon as possible,” it added.

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But it also advised owners that “under no circumstances should they abandon their pets.”

Last Jan. 30, AFCD allowed most local pet shops selling hamsters to resume business after a clampdown was triggered by samples collected from the 'Little Boss' pet shop in Jardine's Bazaar, Causeway Bay, that tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.

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Among the anti-Covid measures it adopted to safeguard public health was that all pet shops selling hamsters must suspend business, and these animals that tested positive be disposed of.

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"The AFCD has taken 1,134 samples from animals other than hamsters including rabbits, chinchillas and others; and 1,124 environmental swabs from all the concerned pet shops for the COVID-19 virus test. Test results of all the animal samples are confirmed negative,” it said. 

 

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Pinoy nabistong overstayer nang maaresto dahil sa away

 

West Kowloon Magistracy

Isang Pilipino ang nakulong matapos umamin sa West Kowloon Magistracy na nag-overstay siya sa Hong Kong nang mahigit dalawang taon.

Umamin si Jerome C. Yumul, 51, ng "Breach of condition of stay - overstay" sa harap ni Magistrate Colin Wong Sze-Cheung Noong Jan. 31 matapos basahan ng kaso na isinalin sa Tagalog ng isang interpreter.

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Ayon sa salaysay laban sa kanya, inaresto si Yumul noong Jan. 11 matapos masangkot sa isang away sa tabi ng Shek Kip Mei MTR Station. 

Sa Sham Shui Po police station kung saan siya dinala, itinawag ng pulis na nag-imbestiga sa kaso ang kanyang Hong Kong ID sa Immigraton Department at nalaman ditong ilegal na siyang naglalagi sa Hong Kong simula pa noong November 2019.

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Dumating si Yumul sa Hong Kong noong 2017 bilang domestic helper. Tatlong buwan lang ang itinagal niya sa employer nang materminate siya.

Nakakuha siya ng ilang visa extension mula sa sa Immigration Department dahil kinasuhan niya ang kanyang employer at dinidinig pa ito. Ang huli niyang extension ay noong Oct. 8, 2019.

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Ayon sa salaysay, tumigil sa pagkuha ng visa extension si Yumul dahil nawala daw niya ang kanyang passport. Nang matapos ang huling visa na iginawad sa kanya ay naging ilegal na ang paglagi niya sa Hong Kong.

Ayon sa abugado ni Yumul, hindi daw nito naasikaso ang pagkuha ng visa para manatiling legal ang pagtigil nya sa Hong Kong dahil napaalis siya sa bahay na kanyang tinitirhan at nawala ang kanyang passport.

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Dahil dito, napabayaan na rin niya ang kanyang kaso sa Labour Tribunal, na dahilan ng pagbibigay sa kanya ng visa extension.

Hiningi rin ng abugado na huwag nang ikulong si Yumul.

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Pero ayon sa hukom, hindi wasto na walang parusang kulong sa ganitong paglabag ng Immigration Ordinance, na nagtatakda ng parusang pagkakakulong ng hanggang dalawang taon at multang $50,000.

Ibinaba na lang ni Magistrate Wong ang parusa sa anim na linggo.

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