Coronavirus: Manila lockdown sparks fears among Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong

Manila’s new measures to fight the spread of Covid-19 include putting 12 million people in the capital region under lockdown from Sunday

Some are concerned about the safety of their relatives in the Philippines as well as about the quarantine measures they may face if they return home

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The news of Manila’s lockdown has triggered fears among Hong Kong’s 240,000 Filipinos. Photo: Edward Wong

Published: 8:27pm, 13 Mar 2020Updated: 11:06pm, 13 Mar 2020

A lockdown of the Philippine capital of Manila to contain the coronavirus epidemic has sparked concerns among migrant workers in Hong Kong.

Filipino domestic helpers fear for the safety of their relatives back home and of those who are underprivileged, while others are concerned about how such measures will eventually affect migrant workers planning to go home during holidays.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday announced a halt to domestic land, sea, and air travel to and from Manila, as well as several other community quarantine measures to stem the spread of the deadly virus.

The news has triggered fears among the migrant community in Hong Kong, which is home to about 240,000 Filipinos, including 219,000 domestic helpers.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday announced a host of measures to arrest the spread of the deadly coronavirus in the country. Photo: Reuters

“As migrant workers, we are very worried,” Eman Villanueva, spokesman for the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body, said. “For instance, if we send money back home, will they be able to collect the money at the bank or the remittance centre? And even if they get money, can they go and buy things?”