Senatorial candidate and Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero has urged the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Hong Kong to prepare to assist more Filipino domestic workers who could be infected with COVID-19 as Hong Kong struggles with a surge in cases.
Escudero noted Hong Kong is already overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases and its government is expected to prioritize locals.
“The POLO and the Philippine consulate, therefore, must be proactive in checking in on our Filipino workers and immediately provide shelter and medical assistance to those who are sick, ostracized and abandoned,” Escudero said in a statement.
Escudero, who is seeking a Senate comeback in the upcoming May 2022 elections, said POLO should ensure that government-run shelters for Filipino workers are equipped for isolation, and has sufficient supply of medicines, oxygen, and trained health personnel who can attend to emergency cases when there is no access to a hospital.
“We have to be able to manage on our own while seeking equal access to hospital care for our workers abroad during the pandemic. Not only that, we must ensure that employers of Filipino domestics in Hong Kong recognize and respect the rights of their helpers to free medical treatment and paid sick leaves,” Escudero said.
Under Hong Kong Laws, employers are mandated to provide free medical treatment, including consultation and hospital confinement, to workers regardless of whether the ailment is attributable to their employment or not.
They are also entitled to a daily sickness allowance equivalent to four-fifths of the average daily wage, which should be paid no later than the usual pay day.
Currently, there are around 205,000 Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong as of January 2021.
“We send thousands of Filipinos all over the world to cater to the service industry, and their remittances keep the Philippines economy afloat in hard times,” the former senator noted.
“The government must now be prepared to take care of these overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) by giving them a place to rest and recover without having to worry about losing their jobs,” Escudero said.
The Philippine consulate in Hong Kong has reported 28 cases of COVID-19 among domestic workers.
According to the consulate, it has rescued 10 Filipino workers who were sleeping outdoors after supposedly being fired by their employers for contracting COVID-19.
“We cannot accept this kind of treatment for our OFWs, not just in Hong Kong but anywhere in the world. We have to make official representations to ensure that migrants are given proper medical care and compensation while they are sick,” Escudero said.