Bethune House expands sheltering task to help stranded and quarantined workers

By Vir B. Lumicao

As Bethune helps, so it is helped. Indonesian migrants show donations to to the shelter.

                                                                                               

Adverse conditions brought on by the pandemic are bringing out the best in people.

Thus observes Edwina Antonio, executive director of Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, who leads the shelter’s relief aid to scores of newly arrived workers in hotel quarantine, and hundreds of others stranded in Hong Kong and in between jobs.

The abnormal situation that leaders and politicians now call the new normal, ostensibly to soften its social impact, has broadened the task of Bethune House, which was set up nearly 35 years ago to provide refuge and help to distressed migrant workers.

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“What we’re doing is still part of our sheltering,” Antonio said in an interview.

She said when the coronavirus pandemic crept into Hong Kong early last year, Bethune limited its intake of clients to avoid the contagion. So did similar church-based shelters.

But she said Bethune initially failed to grasp the scope of the problem as it focused on those in hotel quarantine.

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“Hindi namin naaral na kung hindi namin in-admit at walang nag-aadmit, saan pupulutin ang mga iyan?” she said. (We failed to consider where [the displaced workers] would go if we didn’t admit them and no other shelter admitted them.)

Then, in September, the shelter began to receive messages from workers in hotel quarantine who were asking for extra food and water.

Antonio (in purple) with fellow donors in a meeting to streamline aid to quarantined workers

The problem was highlighted in December when the list of people in quarantine reached more than 500. It was then that Bethune House realized the magnitude of the problem and expanded its sheltering mission to those people.

The problem was aggravated by droves of workers coming to Hong Kong when the government relaxed its entry rules for foreign domestic helpers.

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At the same time, hundreds of dismissed workers were left stranded as carriers cancelled flights. Hundreds more who were waiting to join new employers also reached out as they had to stay in hostels and were running out of money and provisions.

The refuge run by Church-based charity Mission for Migrant Workers got SOS messages from quarantined OFWs appealing for food, water, toiletries and items the hotels niggardly gave. Similar calls came from the stranded workers in the hostels.

The torrent of appeals kept Bethune House busy, prompting it to call up volunteers and supporters to help cope with the calls for help.

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Bethune House’s review of its performance in 2020 showed it had housed 924 migrants in its two shelters in Sheung Wan and Jordan, as well as in hostels.

The refuge also handled 564 cases, including labor, virus-related, employment agency, police and immigration cases; and supported 200-plus migrants outside its shelters with visa extension, hostel rents and transport expenses.

Bethune House also provided nearly 3,000 meals to workers in quarantine and in hostels.

How Bethune, with just 16 clients in its two shelters, carried out this massive task was made possible by Good Samaritans who offered their time and resources to help.

Antonio said at the start, she had to go on foot with a handful of volunteers or clients to deliver food and water to those in hotel quarantine or were stuck in hostels.

As days passed, Bethune got unsolicited donations of food supplies, such as Japanese eggs, toiletries, warm clothes and even ladies’ sanitary stuff from private individuals and supporters. The shelter patiently prepared, packed and delivered these to the workers.

Then Antonio appealed to locals and Filipinos living in various parts of Hong Kong to help carry out relief service in their districts, such as in Tsuen Wan and Yuen Long. This saved the Bethune team from traveling long distances to deliver aid.

Antonio said the support groups prepared what the workers needed and did the delivery themselves. All they needed was for Bethune to tell them how many were asking for help, what their needs were and where they could be reached.

Bethune's samaritan on wheels

One volunteer who stands out is a local Chinese male who loads up his motorbike on his free day with about 25 relief packs to take to various hotels in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island where the quarantined workers were staying.

On a daily basis, Bethune House’s “ayuda” reaches about 45 quarantined workers and around 200 others who are toughing it out in their hostels.

Antonio said the positive side of Bethune’s relief activity is how it has instilled the virtue of caring for fellow workers among its clients. She said the clients very eagerly answer calls for help and do not get tired delivering packs of supplies to those in need.

This, she said, could be because the clients themselves have been in desperate situations before, and thus understand the plight of those who are now starving and desolate in their hotel rooms, as well as those in overcrowded hostels.

Bethune resident hands out relief packs to workers in hostels

There is just one wish that the tireless gatekeeper at Bethune House wants fulfilled now, and that is to find a telecom company or an individual with a big heart who could provide free SIM cards for quarantined workers so that they could contact their families and friends, or at least send out a call for help. 

Bethune House is currently running a fund drive called 'Raise the Roof 2021'. Details are in the poster below: 

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Tribunal tells FDH to post ad to locate no-show employer

By Daisy CL Mandap 

Zerrudo, who says she was not allowed to go out for 7 months, enjoys her newfound freedom

When her former employer did not show up at the Labour Tribunal on Feb 18 for the scheduled hearing of her claim of unpaid wages totaling more than $9,000, C.A. Zerrudo was almost certain she would win her case by default.

After all, she had complied with the instructions of a labour officer to send by registered mail to her employer, Chung Yin-ha, her claim notice, along with a letter she had sent to Immigration explaining why she was forced to leave the employer’s house.

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In her letter to Immigration in August last year, Zerrudo claimed she was forced to effect a constructive dismissal of her employment contract as Chung did not allow her to take a day off for the nearly seven months that she was in her employ.

As her letter to Chung was not returned to her registered address, which was the Mission for Migrant Workers’ office in Central, Zerrudo felt confident they would see each other again on the scheduled hearing date at the Tribunal.

To her dismay, Chung did not show up, so the hearing of her claim was postponed to Sept 23. On top of this, she was also told by tribunal officer W.H. Pun to put out an advertisement in a local Chinese newspaper about the next hearing date, to serve as public notice to her employer.

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“Nakakapanlambot kasi ginawa ko naman ang dapat kong gawin para maabisuhan si Chung na dapat siyang humarap sa korte para sagutin ang reklamo ko,” Zerrudo said.

(It’s frustrating because I did everything that I was supposed to do to ensure Chung would appear in court to respond to my complaint).

Zerrudo sought help from Mission case officer Edwina Antonio, who told her that the order was unusual but not rare. Antonio said an Indonesian client of the Mission received the same order, and ended up paying around $800 for the advertisement.

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But realizing how difficult it would be for Zerrudo to get permission from her new employer to take more time off to comply with the tribunal’s order, Antonio suggested the helper appeal the order.

On Feb 22, Zerrudo faxed a letter of appeal to Pun, explaining her difficulty in complying with the order, including the additional financial burden on her. But a week later, she received a letter from the Tribunal, quoting officer Pun as saying, “the order issued on Feb. 18 stands.”

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“Bakit hanggang ngayon ay ako pa rin ang nahihirapan na ipaglaban ang kaso ko?” asked Zerrudo with a touch of bitterness. (Why am I still being made to bear the burden of fighting my case until now?)

According to the Filipina, she arrived in Hong Kong for the first time in January last year to work for Chung, as well as for her married son Au, his wife and their two children.

At the beginning, she was told that she could take a day off every Friday. But this never happened because a few days after she arrived, Hong Kong recorded its first Covid-19 case, and Au reportedly told Zerrudo she should not leave the house because she might bring the virus home with her.

The Labour Tribunal rejected Zerrudo's appeal against the publication order

Zerrudo said she was allowed to go out briefly to send money home or buy grocery supplies, but never alone because Chung or the other members of her family would always accompany her to make sure she went home directly afterwards.

The helper’s resentment grew, but not knowing anyone in Hong Kong, she said she did not know how to get help. Also, Chung and Au reportedly shouted at her all the time, and would fight noisily every now and then that she became too scared to keep asking about being allowed to go out.

Still, she did not give up altogether. In her mobile phone are stored several messages she sent to her employment agency complaining about her predicament. But each time, she was advised to bear with it, as the pandemic was worsening. Zerrudo was also warned she would have to pay a month’s salary to her employer if she decided to terminate their contract.

Just before her birthday on Jun 12 last year, Zerrudo again begged to be let out so she could celebrate with her friends, but Chung’s family turned down her request once more. To appease her, they took her out to dinner.

By then, Zerrudo had learned about support organizations, and began seeking help. Everyone she consulted told her that not letting her out was illegal, and as such, she could leave anytime without paying compensation.

Still, she bid her time. Zerrudo said the final straw came on Aug 3 when Au, in a fit of rage, threw a printer in her direction, and almost hit her. She decided to call the police, prompting Chung to call an agency representative to work out a deal.

The talks with the police and the ensuing negotiations with the agency staff lasted the whole day, during which Zerrudo said she did not eat anything.

Tired and hungry, she took the $6,949 that was offered her for her unpaid salary, annual leave, air ticket to Mindanao and payment for one day-off and one statutory holiday, which according to her agency, was all she was entitled to.

But after consulting with the Mission, Zerrudo filed a claim for a further $9,102.26. This constitutes her one month salary in lieu of notice, owing to her alleged illegal dismissal, and payments for all the weekly days off and statutory holidays she was not allowed to take.

After a conciliation try by the Labour Department failed in December, her claim was forwarded to the Labour Tribunal for adjudication.

Zerrudo said all she could do now is wait and hope that she would be granted her just claim so she could move on with her life. 

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Filipina DH who ate and slept in toilet wins 6 months’ pay from employer

By The SUN 

One of the pictures shown by Enicito to the Tribunal to prove her case

A Filipina domestic helper who was made to eat and sleep in a toilet in her employer’s Happy Valley home, won a compensation of $27,780, representing six months’ loss of potential income, at the Labour Tribunal on Monday, Mar 1.

Grace Enicito, 32, who was helped by case officer Edwina Antonio from the Mission for Migrant Workers, spent close to six hours negotiating with her employer, Lau Ho-yan, who came with her husband, before striking a deal.

They then presented the proposed settlement to Presiding Officer Eleanor Yeung, who approved it, and got Lau to pay the agreed amount before the day ended.

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“Naawa na rin ako sa amo kong babae kasi mabait naman siya talaga, yung asawa niya ang talagang istrikto,” said Enicito, when explaining why she decided to settle. “Pero maigi din yun na nalaman nila na labag sa batas ang ginawa nila sa akin.” (I started taking pity on my female employer because she had been kind to me, but her husband was really strict. But it was also good for them to realize that what they did to me was illegal).

Enicito also said she had been nervous the whole time as it was her first time to be in court, and she just wanted the case, which had dragged on for five months, to finish.

She is now planning on wrapping up unfinished business, like filing a claim for a payout from her insurance in the Philippines for the time she was left jobless while pursuing her case, before she goes back home for good.

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The helper, who left her employer’s house less than two months after starting to work with her, had initially sought compensation of more than $140,000 for the remaining 22 months of her two-year contract, but Lau stood pat on not paying up.

But after being confronted with pictures of Enicito’s tiny sleeping space inside one of two toilets in her flat, and hints from Antonio that they would pursue the case all the way to the High Court, Lau agreed to settle for six months’ worth of pay.

Daytime shot of Enicito's 'room' with her breakfast on a plastic stool

Enicito, who arrived in Hong Kong on Aug. 21 last year, had earlier received one month’s salary in lieu of notice and six days of arrears in wages during negotiations at the Labor Department.

She moved into her employers’ 550 square-foot, 3-room flat last Sept 5, after spending 14 days in mandatory hotel quarantine.

When shown the space she was supposed to sleep and eat in, Enicito, who had previously worked in Saudi Arabia where she was given her own spacious room, knew there was something amiss, and sought advice from support groups.

She also tried to reason out with her employers, to no avail. Her employment agency, on the other hand, told her to bear with it because she would have to pay back her employers if she terminated their contract.

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During the hearing of her case, the Filipina told officer Yeung that it was her employer who breached their contract and committed an illegal act by making her sleep and eat in the toilet.

She showed videos and photos, complete with dates and times, showing her narrow mattress placed right beside the toilet, and her meager breakfast placed on top of a small plastic stool which served as a table for her meals.

Lau, who is a school teacher, argued on the other hand that there was nothing wrong with the cramped toilet, and that her four previous helpers had stayed there without complaint. She said Enicito was luckier than many helpers in Hong Kong who slept in cupboards or on the kitchen floor.

The employer submitted her own photos of the toilet looking spic and span, and insisted it provided privacy for the worker. She also said the helper had signed three documents showing that she agreed to have the toilet for her room.

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Yeung, however, reminded Lau that the agreements she and Enicito had signed were binding legal documents that could be challenged in the High Court.

When Enicito signified she was willing to take her fight to the High Court, the employer softened and offered four months’ pay as her final settlement. Enicito, however, refused to accept the offer.

Yeung gave the claimant and the employer time to try to work out a settlement outside the courtroom. When they returned after 3pm, they informed the officer that they had reached agreement on six months’ compensation.

Enicito served a notice of termination of her contract barely a month after moving into Lau’s flat. She said she had tried to get the couple to let her use a spare room to sleep in during the night, but they refused.

After she informed them of her decision to leave, however, the couple tried to make her reconsider by acceding to her request to use the spare room for sleeping, but Enicito said she was no longer interested.

On the evening of Oct 15, Enicito was forced to call the police after her male employer said he would take her to the airport the next morning for her flight back to Manila, and onwards to her hometown of North Cotabato. The Mission stepped in and rescued her. 

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Bookings for BioNTech jabs to start Wednesday

By The SUN 

Nip and Chan say get the benefits of getting vaccinated outweigh the risks

Online bookings for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccinations will open on Wednesday to those in the priority groups, with the actual inoculation to start after a week, or from Mar 10.

This was announced by the Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip, who held a joint press conference with Health Secretary Dr Sophia Chan earlier today, Mar 1.

He also said that 63,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine will be distributed to 830 private doctors over the next three days to make as many people to get the jabs as possible.

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In the past four days since Sinovac was offered to the public, he said a total of 20,000  residents have had their first dose of the vaccine. The response has remained “enthusiastic,” according to him, with 250,000 more people having made their bookings.

Both officials reiterated a call for people to get vaccinated as soon as possible, and gave assurance that all three vaccines procured by the government for residents are safe and effective.

“These have been vetted by experts as safe, effective and quality assured. The benefits of immunization outweigh the risks,” said Chan.

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Nip said: “Under the present pandemic, taking or receiving vaccination is better than not receiving vaccination, and doing it early is better than doing it later.”

More than half a million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine are now ready for use

Nip said residents in the priority list will be the first to receive the Pfizer/BioN Tech vaccine, which provides an alternative to the one from Sinovac which was rolled out first.

An estimated 2.4 million people are in the priority group, which includes frontline workers, those aged 60 and above, and staff and residents in care homes.

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They can choose from among seven community vaccination centres for their jabs, which are located in districts like Sai Wan Ho, Western District, Kwun Tong and Yuen Long

An initial batch of 140,000 slots would be available in the initial roll-out for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines which will end on Mar 28.

But Nip assured everyone that there is enough vaccine for everyone, and that the priority now is to ensure a safe and orderly rollout, and for the process to be speeded up.

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The first shipment of 585,000 doses of Pfizer/BioNTech arrived on Saturday, with a second batch expected to follow within the next few days. One million doses of Sinovac came a week earlier, and was the first to be given to top officials including Chief Executive Carrie Lam and her predecessors.

Chan assured the public that everything is being done to monitor any adverse effects of the vaccine, including an investigation into an incident on Saturday, when a 72-year-old man who had hypertension was taken to hospital after developing heart palpitations.

The man remains in hospital in stable condition.

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Chan said the government would follow established procedures to assess the case, and determine whether it is linked to the vaccine.

“They will then see if the patient is eligible for the indemnity fund after the assessment,” she said.

She cited the $1 billion indemnity fund that the government had set aside for anyone who experiences an adverse reaction from the vaccines. “It’s there, but we really hope people won’t have to use it,” she said.

Bookings and information for the vaccination should be made through a dedicated website: www.covidvaccine.gov.hk. Elderly persons who need assistance in bookings or appointment scan approach nearby Elderly Community Centres or call the Social Welfare Department hotline: 2343 2255.

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Filipina tourist jailed 12 weeks for overstaying nearly 4 years in HK

By Vir B. Lumicao 

The overstaying Filipina tourist was given a reduced sentence for pleading guilty

A Filipina tourist was jailed for 12 weeks today, Mar 1, after she pleaded guilty in Shatin Court to breaching her condition of stay for overstaying for nearly four years.

Defendant Alma Teves, 42, was sentenced by Magistrate Jason Wan, who said the offence she committed was serious so she had to be put in jail.

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But because of her guilty plea, Teves was given a discount of 200 days from the prescribed sentence for her offence.

According to the prosecution, the Filipina was arrested by police on Feb 22 during operations against illegal workers.

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A check of Teves’ immigration status showed that she came to Hong Kong on Apr 5, 2017 as a visitor and was allowed to stay for only 14 days, or until Apr 19.

The defendant, however, overstayed for three years and 10 months until she was arrested. The circumstances of her arrest were not disclosed. But the court heard that this was the first time she had visited Hong Kong.

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The prosecutor said Teves had a clear record.

In mitigation, the defense counsel from the Duty Lawyer Service said Teves is married to a 47-year-old driver and they have a 12-year-old son and a 21-year-old daughter.

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The lawyer said all that Teves wanted to do now was to return to her family in the Philippines as soon as possible.

The counsel appealed to Magistrate Wan to grant the 200-day waiver of the prescribed sentence so her client could go home early. The magistrate granted the request after the prosecution did not object.

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Immigration has often warned people with temporary visas in Hong Kong not to breach their conditions of stay by overstaying or taking up employment, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Immigration Director.

Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.

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LBC HK head quarantined, offices shut after cashier tests positive for Covid-19

By Daisy CL Mandap

 

The shuttered door of LBC's Central branch in World-Wide Plaza

The head of LBC Express in Hong Kong was put under quarantine today, Mar 1, after the cargo company’s cashier tested positive for Covid-19.

LBC’s country manager, Arnold E. Cereno, confirmed the news himself. He also said LBC’s two offices in World-Wide Plaza in Central and in Yuen Long have been shut for disinfection until further notice.

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“After we learned that one of our associates tested positive, we immediately coordinated with the proper government bodies to quarantine close contacts (that includes me). We also closed down the two branches to schedule disinfecting and cleaning activities…we will only resume operations once this is done,” Cereno said in a text message.

He also said that all staff of the company will undergo mandatory testing for Covid-19 to ensure all are safe.

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Cereno said he did not believe that their 23-year-old cashier who worked in the two LBC branches was infected at work.

“I think (he) did not get it from the branch but from elsewhere kasi everyone of us is healthy, but to make sure, I asked all of them to take the test,” he said.

Cereno says all other LBC staff, including him, are in good health

The Centre for Health Protection included the case of the LBC cashier among the 14 new Covid-19 infections detected in the past 24 hours. Of these, 11 were locally acquired while three were imported.

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A statement issued by CHP said the LBC staff developed sore throat, cough and headache on Feb. 26. That was the last day that he was at work. He went to the accident and emergency department of a public hospital yesterday and tested positive.

The source of his infection is unknown. 

He lives in Iau Kin Building, 48-68 Hau Tei Square, Tsuen Wan.

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World-Wide House’s mall, the favorite go-to place of Filipinos who hanker for food and other goods from home, remained open today, with staff at all other shops on its three floors saying it’s business as usual with them.

No one appeared concerned that the infection at LBC would spread to other shops, like what recently happened to the posh K11 Musea Mall in Tsim Sha Tsui, where a so-called super spreader in a restaurant appeared to have infected more than 40 diners, fellow workers and their close contacts.

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A CHP staff said that four new infections were linked today to Mr Ming’s Chinese Dining restaurant in the mall, all close contacts of previous cases.

Two others were linked to previous infections while five have unknown sources.

The three imported cases include two female domestic helpers from Indonesia and a male returnee from Pakistan.

More than 10 preliminary positive cases were recorded.

Apart from the LBC staff, the other undetectable cases include a 54-year-old female secretary, a 30-year-old male part-time teacher, a 41-year-old security guard and a 36-year-old camera repair technician.

No date is indicated on when LBC will reopen

Details of the cases can be found here: https://gia.info.gov.hk/general/202103/01/P2021030100424_361846_1_1614578277362.pdf

A total of 226 cases have been recorded in the past 14 days, Feb 15-28, including 189 local cases of which 66 are from unknown sources.

Hong Kong’s total Covid-19 tally now stands at 11,020, with 194 related deaths.

A 79-year-old male patient with chronic diseases was the latest to succumb to the disease.  The patient passed away at 9:49 pm yesterday while in intensive care at Princess Margaret Hospital. 

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