‘It’s chaos’: Hong Kong’s domestic workers call for help amid coronavirus outbreak

Many are growing anxious as they are unable to get masks and hand sanitiser, while some are being fired as their employers leave the city as the crisis grows

Rights groups are calling for donations, as the Philippine and Indonesian consulates are expected to distribute thousands of masks to migrant workers

Reading Time:5 minutes

There are 400,000 domestic workers in Hong Kong, most of whom hail from the Philippines and Indonesia. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 4:00pm, 4 Feb 2020Updated: 4:22pm, 4 Feb 2020

Hong Kong’s foreign domestic workers are growing anxious over their inability to find protective items such as face masks and hand sanitisers as the city grapples with the coronavirus outbreak. On top of this, some are being fired by employers who decided to leave Hong Kong, while others are being told to return to their home countries until the current public health crisis has been contained.

To make up the shortfall, the Mission for Migrant Workers and Bethune House have launched a campaign calling for donations of masks, hand sanitisers and money to help the 400,000 domestic workers in Hong Kong – most of whom hail from the Philippines and Indonesia.

Those countries’ consulates are also expected to hand out thousands of masks to the city’s migrant workers, but supplies are limited and methods of distribution are still being discussed.

If you want to protect your family, you should include your domestic worker

Eman Villanueva, Asian Migrants Coordinating Body

“Workers are very worried because they can’t find face masks, and some are saying they are not given regular access to sanitisers and antibacterial hand wash,” said Eman Villanueva, a domestic worker and spokesman for the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body.

He argued that employers should offer the same level of protection to their workers that they give to relatives. “If you want to protect your family, you should include your domestic worker … By leaving one unprotected, you are putting all your family at risk.”

Queues have become a common sight around the city as Hong Kong residents hoping to buy protective supplies wait for several hours at retailers and pharmacies, with some companies selling such items at much higher prices due to the scarcity and upswing in demand.

Cynthia Abdon-Tellez, head of the Mission for Migrant Workers and co-founder of the Bethune House, argued that “masks and hand sanitisers should be provided not only to domestic workers but also to everyone in need … If it’s too much for employers, they should demand the government effectively monitor prices and help distribution”.

She said it had been particularly challenging to meet the needs of women at the two shelters run by Bethune House, which provides lodging, food, welfare, case guidance and training for vulnerable migrants. The Mission for Migrant Workers and the Bethune House started calling for donations last week.