Page 43 - Varsity Special Issue

58 / Our Community / 59

“

I can say a lot of migrant workers are experiencing long

working hours and no day offs. We have a lot of members

crying saying about how their employer treated them

(badly)

” Migrant workers following social distancing rules. P o lice o n standby in Cen tral.
Migran
o
ll
Police on standby in Central.
wing social distancing rules.
t w
orkers f
o
Hong Kong, Asia Pacific Mission for such as meal gatherings. our mind,” she adds. “There are a lot
Migrants and Mission For Migrant “It’s very discriminatory when they of ways to protect migrant workers.
Workers designed, printed and dis- say please don’t go out during your But don’t tell us to protect us by not
tributed information leaflets with up- holidays. From Monday to Saturday, letting us go out on our day off. The
dated policies concerning COVID-19 you let your helper go to the market, Hong Kong government should at
and virus testing. They also teach do the errands, and you don’t care least recognise our contribution and
workers to safeguard their labour about the virus? But then for just the provide us with proper protection.
rights and welfare and distribute free day that they can take a rest, be free But not singling us out, not discrimi-
face masks, hand sanitizers to workers from their work, you tell them not to nation, but inclusion,” she says.
on Sundays. go out to not get the virus. So are you
“These should be employers and telling us that the virus is only active
Hong Kong government’s responsibil- during Sunday? Or are you telling us
ity,” Tebia-Bonifacio says. the virus is only in the migrant work-
She was furious when the Labour ers’ community?” Tebia-Bonifacio
Department urged foreign domestic says. *Name changed at request
helpers to stay at home on rest days in “We also need a rest like you. Sit- of interviewee
January and March and avoid going ting on the streets is our way of rest.
Edited by Howard Li
out for social activities on rest days That one day will recharge our body, Edited by Howar d Li
t domestic w
orkers packing parcels to send back home.
Migrant domestic workers packing parcels to send back home.
Migran
bear heavier workload and hardship the swab test as I really hate needles the job. “
at work amid the pandemic, some and things like that. And he (em- “Why aren’t they complaining?
are forced to live with their employ- ployer’s son) only kept saying sorry. I Just because of termination. If they We also need a rest
ers when they are tested positive for stayed at home for two weeks with no complain, it means they risk termi-
COVID-19 or had close contacts with holidays,” says Edwin who has been nation. Are they really prepared for like you.
the infected. working in Hong Kong for 28 years. termination? No, because they have
Kuya Edwin, a domestic helper Luckily, her employer’s son was family back home who are relying on Sitting on the streets
from the Philippines, recalled her tested negative. them,” she says. is our way of rest.
anxieties in July. She was required to “I can say a lot of migrant work- Gabriela Hong Kong pointed out
have two-week self-quarantine with ers are experiencing long working the government fails to offer a helping That one day will
her employer after the son of the fam- hours and no day offs. We have a lot hand to foreign domestic workers. It
ily had close contact with an infected of members crying saying about how turned its back on worker’s inhumane recharge our body,
patient when attending a dinner gath- their employer treated them (badly),” working conditions and stigmatize
ering earlier that month. Tebia-Bonifacio says. foreign domestic workers instead of our mind
“I was so worried during the 14 But no worker dares to file a for- promoting social inclusion. Domestic w orkers gathering o n a Sunda y .
Domestic workers gathering on a Sunday.
days. I was also very scared of doing mal complaint, fearing they may lose Concern groups like Gabriela ”