Social News
Written by: Chen Jiahui
2021-06-06 13:00
Last update date: 2021-06-06 13:00
The new crown pneumonia epidemic is raging around the world. In April, the Hong Kong government announced a "no-flying order" for flights to the Philippines and other places.
During the epidemic, some foreign domestic helpers missed important moments in their lives due to their stay in Hong Kong. They were unable to attend the graduation ceremony of their daughters and had difficulty returning home to take care of their parents. However, in order to avoid a reduction in the epidemic, we do not plan to return home for the time being.
Some social workers pointed out that the epidemic has highlighted the status quo that Hong Kong has been relying on foreign domestic helpers to share family care work. It is recommended that the government increase services such as local domestic helpers, childcare, and temporary care for the elderly to solve the urgent needs. It is also recommended that the government open more public spaces during the epidemic. Allowing foreign domestic helpers to maintain social distancing during holiday gatherings will also help prevent the epidemic.
▼The second mandatory test for foreign domestic helpers▼
Most foreign domestic helpers who come to work in Hong Kong take advantage of the holiday to return to China to reunite with their families. However, under the epidemic, most foreign domestic helpers dare not return to China, and some people miss important moments in their lives because of this.
Vildz, a domestic helper who has 4 daughters with her husband and came to Hong Kong in 2009, said that because of the epidemic, she canceled her air ticket back to the Philippines twice. The last time she returned to China was at the end of 2018, which made her miss her graduation from high school. Li, fortunately, her daughter is sensible and understands that her mother is the "Bread Winner" of the family, and she is not dissatisfied.
Air tickets cancelled twice under the epidemic missed important moments in life
Vildz believes that there are risks when returning to China under the epidemic. In order to protect himself and his employer's family, and do not want to undergo quarantine, he does not plan to return to China for the time being.
When the epidemic in the Philippines was warming up earlier, would you worry about your family?
She said that she is of course worried, but she also needs to accept the reality. She talks with her family on the phone every day. Since the beginning of the epidemic, they have taken measures to prevent the epidemic and are confident that the family can protect themselves.
Vildz believes that there is indeed a risk in returning to China under the epidemic. In order to protect himself and his employer's family, he does not plan to return to China for the time being.
(Provided by interviewee)
Although the Internet can bring the foreign domestic helper closer to his family, because his parents do not know how to use the phone, Vildz has not been able to contact them often.
She said that in the past, she would rush back to China to take care of her parents every holiday. Now she can only pray for the epidemic to pass as soon as possible so that she can return to China as soon as possible to accompany the two elders.
A friend was terminated due to the ban on flying in the Philippines, and it was difficult to find a job in the local area
The government has banned flights from the Philippines to Hong Kong since April 20.
Vildz said that he was not affected by the "no-flying order", but some friends were terminated because they were unable to return to Hong Kong, and it was difficult to find a job in the local area. When a friend wanted to return to China, he would persuade the other party to give up the idea, "It is better to stay during the holiday. Get a good rest in Hong Kong.” Even if you stay in Hong Kong, you need to maintain social distancing. Vildz said that in the past, the time for meeting friends and sharing food with friends on weekends is gone. Every day when you go out to buy food, you will dress like an "spaceman." But I think epidemic prevention is more important.
▼A large number of foreign domestic helpers line up for testing at Victoria Park▼
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Social Workers: Epidemic highlights Hong Kong's dependence on foreign domestic helpers
Huang Xiaohui, Senior Supervisor of Caritas Community Development Services, pointed out that the epidemic has highlighted the current situation of Hong Kong's society relying on foreign domestic helpers to share family care work. She suggested that the government can increase local domestic helpers, childcare, and respite care services for the elderly during this period. Help some families who are temporarily unable to hire foreign domestic helpers to relieve the pressure.
Huang Xiaohui pointed out that the epidemic has highlighted the current situation of Hong Kong's society relying on foreign domestic helpers to share the work of family care. He suggested that services such as local domestic helpers, childcare, and respite care for the elderly should be added to relieve the pressure of some families who are temporarily unable to hire foreign domestic helpers.
(Provided by interviewee)
For the specific number of service places, she pointed out that the authorities do not have relevant statistics at present, but according to statistics from the Census and Statistics Department, there are at least 500,000 families in families with elderly people and special care needs.
Huang also pointed out that childcare and elderly care services alone may not be able to solve the urgent needs of ordinary families, and domestic helpers still need to help pick them up.
She believes that the Government can refer to the experience of SARS in 2003 to coordinate the training of domestic helpers. She also believes that the Employees Retraining Board is also promoting related work.
Foreign domestic helpers are also wage earners seeking stability
Earlier, some employers of foreign domestic helpers and intermediary organizations stated that the “no-flying order” has reduced the supply of foreign domestic helpers, and the situation of foreign domestic helpers choosing jobs is common, and they often ask for salary increases.
However, Huang Xiaohui pointed out that the decrease in the import of foreign domestic helpers will exacerbate the imbalance between supply and demand, or change the bargaining power of both employers and foreign domestic helpers. However, most of the foreign domestic helpers contacted by the center have worked in the same household for two to three contract periods, "just like a normal part-time job. Tsai, most foreign domestic helpers also seek stability."
▼Foreign domestic helpers gather at Tamar Park and Chater Road on holiday▼
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She said frankly that it cannot be ruled out that individual foreign domestic helpers will finish their contracts early due to unpleasant work and salary. However, she said that the current wages of foreign domestic helpers are priced at the "minimum wage" and appealed to employers to increase their wages each year according to their seniority and job content. This will help. Maintaining long-term work and good relationships describes this as a "win-win" approach.
It is recommended to open more space to travel with peace of mind to help prevent the epidemic
Under the epidemic, foreign domestic helpers also encounter different difficulties. Huang Xiaohui pointed out that since the beginning of the epidemic, the cleaning workload of foreign domestic helpers has greatly increased; and since the epidemic has been more than a year, Hong Kong people have begun to fight against the fatigue of the epidemic, and foreign domestic helpers will feel the same.
She said that foreign domestic helpers leave their hometowns to work in Hong Kong and cannot meet with their families. The time to gather with friends on holidays is very important for them. There are nearly 400,000 foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong, and about 100,000 people go out for gatherings during holidays. Insufficient public space, coupled with the requirement to maintain social distancing during the epidemic, foreign domestic helpers are "good to go without knowing what to do on holidays."
She suggested that the government should open up more public spaces, such as community halls in various districts, for foreign domestic helpers to use on holidays. These venues are affixed with a QR code for "Travel with peace of mind" so that cases can be tracked quickly if they occur.
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