A total of 76 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), eight of them are currently in hospital, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said on Wednesday, Feb. 23.
OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac disclosed that COVID-infected migrant workers are either in hospitals, their employers' isolation rooms, or quarantine facilities.
“As of today 76 ang nadapuan ng COVID, walo po ay nasa ospital. Of the 76 isolated cases 27 ay nasa employers pa nila mismo binigyan ng isolation room (As of today, 76 OFWs contracted COVID, eight of them are in hospitals, and 27 are in isolation rooms provided by their employers),” he said over Laging Handa.
According to Cacdac, the agency is currently convincing HK employers who reportedly terminated OFWs to reconsider their decision.
“Meron na pong mga nakumbinsi na employers na tanggapin uli ang kanilang mga OFWs yung hindi po makumbinsi sa talaan po natin ay isa lang pong employer, idudulog na po natin ito sa HK labor of authority (We were able to persuade some employers to accept their workers again, only one employer was not convinced and we are going to coordinate this with the HK labor of authority),” he explained.
Cacdac said employers who illegally terminate Filipino workers would be blacklisted as per the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
To help the COVID-infected OFWs, Cacdac said that the agency would provide food assistance, hygiene kits, power banks, and $200 (over P10,000) and financial aid upon their recovery.