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| Photo taken Mar 22 shows OFWs gathering in large numbers in Central amid the worsening contagion |
Hong Kong’s Labour Department has repeated an advisory to
all foreign domestic workers to stay at home on their rest days, and if they do
decide to go out, to refrain from gathering in public places.
But this time around, the advisory issued today, Mar 27, was
balanced with a warning to employers not to make their helpers work on their
day off, or they could be prosecuted and fined up to $50,000.
The advisory was further tempered with an advice for the
workers to discuss rest day arrangements with their employers, including
choosing a day other than Sunday, when most FDWs traditionally gather, to go
out.
Employers, on the other hand, are urged to explain the special
circumstances for making an alternative arrangement when discussing rest days with their helpers.
The advisory further states that if the employers ask their helpers to work on a rest day, a
substitute day-off must be designated within 30 days. The employer must also
notify the helper of the arrangement within 48 hours after work.
A previous advisory that asked FDWs straight out not to go
out on their rest day to avoid contracting the coronavirus disease, was widely criticized
by migrant organizations as discriminatory.
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The new toned-down version was issued as the Hong Kong government imposed new restrictions on public
gatherings to arrest an alarming spike in the number of new Covid-19
infections.
Health officials said that a record 65 new cases were
recorded today, the highest daily tally since the outbreak began in Hong Kong in late January.
As part of the new containment measures, no more than four
people can gather together in public, including when eating in a restaurant, while places that attract large gatherings like cinemas, gyms and gaming centers,
will be closed for two weeks.
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| No more than 4 people can gather together in public places starting this weekend |
Consul General Raly Tejada has issued a similar call a day earlier, advising Filipino migrant workers to stay at home as much as possible,
but stopped short of asking them not to go out on their rest day.
The statement posted in the Consulate’s Facebook page
said, “Due to the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in Hong
Kong , the Philippine Consulate General appeals to the Filipino
community to stay at home whenever possible and if there is a need to go out,
to make sure to avoid crowded places and practice social distancing. We also
ask employers to respect the rest day of domestic workers who choose to stay at
home.”
ConGen Tejada told The SUN earlier that he was bothered to
see so many Filipinos still gathered together last Sunday, Mar 22, despite the escalating
rate of infection in Hong Kong.
Dolores Balladares, chairperson of United Filipinos-Migrante
Hong Kong, says her group appreciates that the Labour Department has taken
pains to tone down its advisory this time.
She said this should be the right approach because migrant
workers realize the severity of the contagion, and are willing to make their
own sacrifices for the community.
“Migrant workers are aware of the problem, and are compliant
with the advice on how they can protect themselves and other people from
catching the virus,” Balladares said. “Lagi silang naka-mask at hindi na
nag-iipon ipon, o nagsasalo sa pagkain.”
On top of this, she said nearly all migrant workers have
hand sanitizers and alcohol in their handbags to better protect themselves from
contamination.
She said her group is willing to cooperate with the
government in preventing the spread of the virus, and will advise members to
comply with their employers’ request to stay indoors, unless they really have
to go out.
Those who will find it necessary to go out this Sunday will
be advised about the new social distancing restrictions.
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