To HK and sending country governments: Protect FDWs in COVID-distress
APMM Press Statement, 18 February 2022
Reference: Aaron Ceradoy, APMM General Manager
The Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) raises the alarm over the worsening living and working situation of foreign domestic workers (FDWs) amidst the 5th wave of COVID infections in Hong Kong.
Through partner migrant organisations and migrant-serving institutions in the city, the APMM gathered the following cases:
An Indonesian domestic worker who tested positive for COVID was deemed non-urgent by the hospital and told to do home-quarantine. The employer refused to let her back in.
A Filipino domestic worker about to fly back home to the Philippines tested positive for COVID but had no place to go for rest forcing her to sleep in a public park.
An Indonesian domestic worker who tested positive for COVID was asked by her recruitment agency to leave the dormitory for fear of infecting the other residents.
Some FDWs were terminated by their employers upon learning the former tested positive for COVID.
Many workers are denied of a rest day. There are those allowed to go out during their day off but with strict instructions of staying within the vicinity of their employer’s place; or of taking antigen tests that they purchase out of their own pockets every time they go back home.
It is likely that more FDWs are in distress as some have resorted to social media to share their situation of homelessness and urgently seek help or shelter. The cold weather with the temperature expected to drop in the next few days makes the situation more worrying for the health and safety of the migrant workers.
As both grassroots migrant organisations and migrant-serving institutions are attending to such cases, the APMM seeks immediate attention and action from the Hong Kong government on the plight of the FDWs. At the immediate, they can open quarantine facilities to accommodate COVID+ FDWs and extend health services to them for free. They can likewise extend visas and permission to stay for FDWs who have lost their employment visas (as they are technically tourists) so the latter can access health support.
This call to action is likewise extended to governments of countries of origin to provide immediate and unconditional support to their nationals during this crisis. They need to extend shelter, health assistance and all forms of support that the FDWs need.
Like everyone else, FDWs deserve the same amount of attention, support and care especially during this time of the crisis – which is and should be an integral part of addressing the COVID pandemic in Hong Kong. #
