On February 22, the cold weather warning was in effect for about 100 consecutive hours, and there was still light rain in the sky; 65-year-old Ms. Pin (pseudonym) put on a straw hat and pushed a cart with two trash cans, a broom and a garbage shovel. , walking through the first floor of Tsui An Building, Tsui Ping North Village, Kwun Tong. She didn't have a protective mask or gloves, so she could only clean the garbage and empty the trash cans with her bare hands.
As early as February 9, the SAR government announced that the test result of the sewage in the North Village of Cuiping was positive, so it called on the relevant residents and staff to do the test, and promised to distribute three sets of rapid test kits to the cleaning staff and property management staff in the district one after another. , but did not officially act until February 21.
Previously, her family was very worried about Sister Pin's health and safety, and advised her to stop doing this job, but she insisted, "How can it be so easy to say no and don't do it? Just stop talking!"
At the moment when the fifth wave of the epidemic is severe, there are still many expatriate cleaners like Pinjie, who stick to the most comprehensive work of the epidemic, but have not received comprehensive safety protection.
Sister Pin (pseudonym) is responsible for daily garbage cleaning in Bei Village, Cuiping. Despite the severe fifth wave of the epidemic, she still works for a living.
(Photo by Huang Baoying)
The cost of testing cannot be borne by itself
At noon on February 22, Oxfam, a poverty alleviation organization, distributed rapid test kits to cleaning workers working in the area at the Cuiyan Building in North Village, Cuiping. Sister Pin and Sister Guo (pseudonym) are also in the team.
Ms. Pin earns only 10,000 yuan a month, but she has few days off and is responsible for cleaning every day.
Sister Guo, who is also 65 years old, also said that since the outbreak of the new crown epidemic, her work has become heavier. From 7 am to 5 pm, in addition to cleaning garbage, she is also responsible for cleaning and disinfecting floors.
However, in the process of work, they only have the basic protection of "masks", and they will constantly clean their hands, and have nothing else, but in order to make a living, they can only "hard work", fortunately, where they live Being close to work eliminates the additional risk of infection that comes with public transportation.
Since the fifth wave of the epidemic broke out on January 23, a total of more than 75,000 new confirmed cases have been added to yesterday (February 23), including cleaning workers at the forefront.
Huang Shuohong, Project Director of Oxfam Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, said that in view of this, the organization has been cooperating with social groups to support cleaners, and when it was learned that the government and outsourcers did not continue to supply rapid test kits to cleaners, they started working with the Chen Tinghua Foundation. With the donation of 300 rapid antigen test kits to them.
At present, the testing centers are often full, and many families have prepared their own rapid testing kits approved by the government, including Beijing Rejing Bio, INDICAID, BGI, Abbott Laboratories and Roche Diagnostics. The retail price starts from 75 yuan. to 125 yuan.
However, this is a huge expense for cleaning workers. Huang Shuohong pointed out that some older workers are reluctant to buy test kits even if they have symptoms. This takes a lot of time and increases the risk of infection for no reason.
Oxfam is calling on the government to distribute rapid test kits to cleaners on a daily basis.
Sister Guo, 65, said her work has become heavier after the outbreak.
(Photo by Huang Baoying)
Insufficient government support in hindsight
In fact, the fifth wave of the epidemic has shown signs of outbreak since the end of last year, and it is not only today that cleaners are at higher risk, but the SAR government did not strengthen protection for them as soon as possible, but rather slowed down.
For example, in Kwai Chung Village last month, at least two cleaners bore the brunt of the outbreak. As a result, more than 40 related workers were sent to Penny's Bay for compulsory quarantine.
The Cuiyan Building, Cuiping North Village, where Sister Pin and Sister Guo work, was also tested positive for sewage by the government earlier (February 9). The government promised to distribute rapid test kits to the relevant residents, cleaners and property management workers. After that, the official action was not taken until the first two days, a delay of nearly two weeks.
Although the government has purchased more than 100 million sets of rapid antigen test kits and will distribute them to priority communities, including residents with positive sewage test results, many cleaners have been affected. In the third year of the fight against the epidemic, the government's consistent attitude of hindsight is hard to be reassuring and convincing.
Many of the cleaning workers are elderly, and because of the special nature of their work, they belong to a high-risk group that is susceptible to infection, but the government lacks foresight and always needs to be reminded repeatedly, or will take care of their needs only after serious problems break out. .
For example, in February 2020, when the new crown epidemic first broke out, the supply of anti-epidemic materials in Hong Kong was in short supply. After a poll by the Cleaners Union and Oxfam and other organizations revealed that nearly 60% of the cleaners were not given masks during their work, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor had just Announced the provision of 700,000 masks per month to government outsourced cleaners.
Two years on, the authorities still don't seem to regard cleaning workers as a high-risk group, but rather just walk by.
Cleaning workers are risky and underpaid, and the cost of rapid test kits is not a small expense for them.
(Photo by Huang Baoying)
Under the epidemic, the rights and interests of grassroots workers are even more damaged
It was reported earlier that an outsourced cleaner at Heng On Station on the MTR Tuen Ma Line was initially diagnosed with COVID-19, but the infected worker continued to work without a "stop work order" before receiving the test result, causing other workers to take pictures. infected.
More than 400 people have been diagnosed with the MTR so far. Cheng Zhanwei, an artist who experienced cleaning work on the MTR a few months ago, believes that the MTR does not strictly require employees to obtain negative test results before starting work, resulting in a high risk of infection for cleaning workers.
However, even if the company follows this rule, if the cleaners do not receive stipends or sick leave during the shutdown, the already meagre income will be exacerbated by "stop and talk".
Huang Shuohong also said that some cleaners have reported that they want to do a rapid test when they have symptoms of new coronary pneumonia, but they are worried that they will be absent from work for another week after the result is positive to wait for the official nucleic acid test result. Livelihoods will be seriously affected.
Huang Shuohong suggested that the government can provide guidelines so that cleaners can enjoy sick leave and allowances while waiting for the nucleic acid test results; the government should also strengthen the epidemic prevention equipment of cleaners, such as masks, goggles, protective clothing, etc., and hire enough manpower to avoid workers Overworked.
Last Tuesday (February 15), the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council approved the sixth round of the "Anti-epidemic Fund" appropriation application of 27 billion yuan. A monthly allowance of 2,000 yuan for a period of 5 months.
To the government, this may have been a "great grace from the emperor", but Sister Pin and Sister Guo shook their heads helplessly, lamenting that this allowance is not enough to substantially improve their lives, and that overwork and other situations cannot be solved by allowances.
Afterwards, they picked up brooms again, walked in the corridors of the housing estate, and devoted themselves to the cleaning work.
Oxfam Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan project director Huang Shuohong (middle) suggested that the government provide cleaning workers with adequate protective equipment and testing kits.
(file picture)
