[New Coronary Pneumonia] What can the government do when cleaning workers are recruited one after another?

01 view

Written by: Commentary Editing Room

2020-07-24 06:30

On Sunday (19th), the Leisure and Cultural Services Department stated that the two outsiders working at the children’s playground, extreme sports field and amphitheater in Po Kong Village Road Park in Wong Tai Sin, as well as the Shek Pai Street Park and Shek Lei Discovery Playground in Kwai Tsing The cleaner was sentenced to confirm the diagnosis. On Monday (20th), the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced that the outsourced cleaners working in the Hung Hom Municipal Services Building Sports Centre had a preliminary diagnosis. Cleaners have been diagnosed one after another, which makes people worry about their working conditions and security under the epidemic.

Cleaners need to clean up a large amount of garbage every day. During the epidemic, there are many high-risk items in this garbage, such as used paper towels and discarded masks. In addition, many of the cleaners are elderly, who are susceptible. Increased work risk. In such a high-risk environment, the important thing is whether work protection is adequate.

In fact, as early as February, the society was concerned about the shortage of masks for cleaners. Later, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor decided to send 700,000 masks to the government outsourced cleaners a month to ease the problem of masks. However, in addition to masks, cleaners are prone to splashes of sewage, contact with masks, phlegm, etc., making eye masks and gloves, as well as sufficient disinfectant and handrubs, all necessary items for work under the epidemic. Many workers reported that the quality and quantity of the gloves distributed by the contractor were not adequate, and eye masks were even scarce. Therefore, the government should not be limited to masks when supporting the epidemic prevention supplies needed by cleaners.

Workers' hygiene awareness is important

Faced with such a high-risk job, knowledge of epidemic prevention is equally important. However, according to surveys conducted by Oxfam, the Clean Workers Union, and Medical Care Workers, among the 149 interviewed government outsourced cleaners, 127 said that the company did not provide guidance on how to deal with discarded masks, and 120 said that the company did not provide epidemic prevention. Training. Coupled with the fact that the workers are too old, hygiene awareness and information may not be sufficient. For example, a worker chose not to replace the plastic bag because the garbage bag was not full, but only emptied the garbage in the bucket, which increased the risk. Therefore, in addition to providing adequate protective equipment, the government should also provide adequate training for work under the epidemic.

In terms of details, the government may also consider adopting special facilities during special periods. For example, the artist Cheng Zhanwei, who is concerned about labor rights, found that the design of a trash can and an ashtray in one is prone to greater health risks in the epidemic. "There are often many unhygienic people spitting on the ashtray. The integrated design makes the ashtray unable to be cleaned independently. Although some cleaning will be covered with tin foil under the ashtray, it is inevitable that they will be accessible during the handling process. "Therefore, can the government consider covering some of the ashtrays on the trash cans during special periods, which not only avoids the spread of smokers gathering and smoking, but also reduces the difficulty and risks of workers cleaning.

Cleaners continue to be diagnosed, and the situation is worrying. (Photo by Luo Guohui)

Nowadays, more and more markets and recreational venues have confirmed cases, making cleaning workers in the relevant areas afraid to go home even if they have not been diagnosed, for fear of injuring their families. In the 01 reporter’s interview, some cleaning workers revealed that if there is unfortunately a confirmed case in the area in charge, they can only choose to stay in the garbage room or live in a nearby hotel at their own expense. This type of issue should arouse the government's attention. For workers, especially those working in the epidemic area, how to support them in giving priority to nucleic acid testing and provide additional safe housing. This is not only related to the safety and health of the workers themselves, but also to avoid potential transmission in the community. The government should carefully consider it early.

Nowadays, under the epidemic situation, many cleaning workers have not received sufficient support and protection in work equipment, information and related assistance. As a result, the workers have confirmed cases and the work risk is high. The deeper reason behind this is that when outsourcing, the government’s bidding score is divided into seven to three for price and technology. Therefore, contractors who value profit, price-oriented, and low-price winning bids often fail to provide people-oriented labor protection. This is an issue of outsourcing that the government must examine and reflect on in the future. What is more urgent now is that the government needs to provide comprehensive and high-quality protection to outsourced cleaners to avoid putting workers in danger.

[New Coronary Pneumonia] The diagnosis of the escort raises concerns that the government should protect the interests of both parties

[New crown pneumonia] Is it difficult to "close the beach" against the enthusiasm of swimmers?

[New Coronary Pneumonia] Are laboratory errors accidental or inevitable?

01 depth

New crown pneumonia cleaners cleaners workers union cleaning industry labor protection 01 view