HONG KONG (SE): The Hong Kong Labour Department called on employers on January 30 to encourage their foreign domestic workers to stay at home on holidays to prevent the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus. Migrant rights workers are worried that employers may take advantage of government appeal to deny workers’ holidays. Divine Word Father Jay Flandez, chaplain for Filipinos said the government is only making an appeal which doesn’t prevent workers from exercising their right to attend Mass with precautions.
“That is only to encourage the domestics helpers to take precautions. I think it is not obligatory,” Father Flandez said.
“The faithful have the right also to do their religious duties with care,” but he repeated the appeal of the diocese for those who are not feeling well to refrain from attending Mass and do their obligation though another form of piety or prayers.
Eman Villanueva, of the Asian Migrant Coordinating Body, said the government’s call might result in the widespread violation of labour rights to a weekly day off or to statutory holidays, which are important for workers considering their long working hours inside the homes of their employers.
He added that it is also unfair and discriminatory to assume that overseas workers are particularly prone to spreading the virus or are incapable of maintaining the necessary hygienic and healthy lifestyle.
He called on the Hong Kong government to, instead of promoting steps that will violate workers’ rights, ensure that foreign domestic workers are given the same level of protection as the rest of the population. Employers should provide their domestic workers with free protective materials such as face masks, vitamin C tablets, alcohol-based sanitisers, and ensure that foreign domestic workers get sufficient rest and nutritious food so they will not get sick.
The government should also ensure that advisories and public information regarding coronavirus are made available in different languages for the benefit of everyone including ethnic minority communities.
Mitch de la Cruz, a Filipino worker, said her employer did not ask her to stay at home. Instead, she was only told to stay away from crowded places. She 2as also supplied with masks and sanitising gel. She said she would take extra precautions as she attended Mass and other Church activities.
Debbie Lo, an employer said she could understand the concern of the government, as foreign domestic workers tend to gather in large groups in Central or other public places for long periods on Sundays. However, she said it is hard to ask her worker to stay home on her days off as she thinks her worker needs a break every week. She can only advise her not to stay long in crowded areas like fast food restaurants. She provided her worker with masks and alcohol spray and explained the skills of using them. She also reminded her worker to close the lid of a public toilet before flushing it, explaining to her that scientists have discovered virus in human faeces.
Although the government advisory for the foreign domestic workers is well intended, concerned authorities should ensure that employers do not abuse the advisory.
