The fifth wave of the epidemic is severe, and the health and emotions of many frontline cleaning workers are facing great challenges.
A concerned group conducted an investigation earlier to understand the emotional state and work situation of the workers during the outbreak. It was found that the workload increased greatly, the equipment was insufficient, the inspection report was not delivered, and they were asked to go to work after contracting the epidemic. They urged all cleaning contractors. Businesses and cleaning companies stopped unreasonable overtime work, provided clear information and rapid test reagents to workers in the future, issued and traced sickness allowances, and provided appropriate and sufficient protective equipment to protect the rights and interests of cleaning workers.
The Caritas Labor-Friendly Community Project, which is concerned with the health and safety of cleaning workers, conducted a survey to understand the emotional state and working conditions of workers during the outbreak.
(Photo provided by Caritas Labor-Friendly Community Program)
The Caritas Labour-Friendly Community Project, which is concerned about the health and safety of cleaners, said that since the outbreak of the fifth wave of the epidemic, it has contacted nearly 2,000 full-time or part-time cleaners of various types in Hong Kong, and observed that one out of every three cleaners Once infected, the situation deserves attention.
The organization then interviewed 63 cleaning workers by telephone from February 22 to March 17 this year, including outsourced workers from the FEHD Cleansing Section, Pest Control Section, Water Convoy, Public Toilet Section, and single-family dwellings. Building cleaners (downstairs), industrial building cleaners.
The survey is divided into two parts, including the self-rating emotional scale DASS-21, which assesses the depression, anxiety and stress of the workers, as well as the equipment and expectations under the epidemic.
More than half of the respondents reported moderate to very severe anxiety
The score in the first part is divided into five levels, namely normal, mild, moderate, severe and very severe. If any one of the levels exceeds moderate or above, it means that the mental health of the respondents has reached the level of concern.
The survey results showed that nearly 40% of the surveyed workers reported that their depression level was moderate to very severe, 42% said their stress was moderate to very severe, and more than half of the respondents said that their stress was moderate to very severe. They described their anxiety as moderate to very severe, with nearly 40% of them being severe to very severe.
Reuse of PPE protective clothing is in serious condition
Community Partner Development Coordinator Ms. Cai Kuiwen said that 80% of the interviewed workers said that the workload during the fifth wave of the epidemic has increased significantly, including the doubling of cleaning work under the enclosure, and the daily arrival of 120,000 to 150,000 styrofoam boxes in Hong Kong. It was transported back to the Mainland and accumulated, and had to be disposed of with the help of cleaners. In addition, many cleaners were understaffed due to the infection, and cross-district and cross-job situations were common. Bury it," Cai Kuiwen also revealed that many workers' menstrual holidays were cancelled, and "I have been stepping on it for half a month."
In addition, the survey also revealed that 56% of the workers were worried about the increased risk of infection during the epidemic, and 55% believed that the company provided insufficient anti-epidemic equipment. Cai Kuiwen quoted the opinions of the workers as saying that the station manager responsible for distributing anti-epidemic equipment reused PPE protective clothing. He said that wearing the same piece of PPE all week, and even sharing it in the morning and evening, increases the risk of infection.”
At present, the FEHD distributes three masks to each worker every day, but nearly 60% of the respondents believe that the mask specifications are insufficient. Some respondents said that the masks they wear are too thin, the inside is easy to get wet, and they are very "baked" at work. , the group also conducted a quality test on the masks issued by the cleaners in February, and found that the meltblown cloth in the middle layer did not meet the specifications and the quality was uneven.
Some workers wait 10 days for community nucleic acid test results
As a large number of citizens were diagnosed with the fifth wave of the epidemic, the time for workers to wait for the results of community nucleic acid testing has also increased significantly.
The survey shows that since February this year, 22% of the interviewed workers indicated that they had to wait more than 6 days for the results of the community nucleic acid test, and the longest waiting time was 10 days. However, workers reported that they still had to go to work while waiting for the results. Working while sick puts doubt on the health protection of other workers.
In addition, nearly 60% of the respondents said that the rapid test kits provided by the company are not enough to meet the daily needs of workers. Some outsourcing companies require workers to take a test every day, but they need to pay at their own expense. Cai Kuiwen described the situation as very unsatisfactory. You shouldn't pay to go back to work."
79-year-old Sister Wen (second from left) has been a cleaner for 5 years. She described that she was unable to go to work because too many colleagues were diagnosed during the epidemic. She needed to take a vacation. The last vacation was at the end of February, and she was emotionally troubled.
(Photo provided by Caritas Labor-Friendly Community Program)
The survey results also showed that 60% of the workers said that due to the company's notification mechanism, Kewen did not disclose the information of the infected employees to them, so that they did not know whether any workers around them were infected and asked for leave.
If a worker is unfortunate enough to contract the virus or be classified as a close contact, 56% of the respondents also said that the company does not provide sick leave compensation. Cai Kuiwen said that many workers do not know how to surf the Internet. Even if they apply for a certificate of infection, they do not know how to upload the relevant documents. prevent them from receiving reasonable compensation.
Ms. Wen, 79, has worked as a cleaner for 5 years. She described that she was unable to go to work due to the diagnosis of too many colleagues during the epidemic. She needed to take a vacation. The last vacation was at the end of February, and she was emotionally troubled. Going back to work is really annoying, and I am worried that I will not be able to return to work because of the infection, which will affect the company’s fewer staff;
Sister Wen also revealed that two friends around her have passed away due to the diagnosis, which made her anxious. In addition, the quality of the anti-epidemic equipment provided by the company is uneven, and she hopes that the company can improve as soon as possible.
Brother Qin (second from left), 63, has been working as a driver in the cleaning fleet outsourced by the FEHD for nearly a year. Since the outbreak of the fifth wave of the epidemic, the workload has doubled.
(Photo provided by Caritas Labor-Friendly Community Program)
No sickness allowance for confirmed workers
Brother Qin, 63, has been working as a driver in the cleaning fleet outsourced by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for nearly a year. Since the outbreak of the fifth wave of the epidemic, the workload has doubled. He was dispatched to the inspection area for garbage collection. "Except for the first day or two that I have equipment, but after that, I don't have enough equipment. Atou told me to reuse protective clothing and rubber gloves."
Brother Qin also revealed that since a large number of workers were diagnosed and defined as close contacts, their bosses asked them to go to work even if the quarantine days were not completed, and the workers who were diagnosed did not receive sickness allowance. There will be, even if there is already a quarantine order."
The sick employee was asked to continue to work
51-year-old Ah Mei has worked in the cleaning industry for more than 10 years. She is an outsourced cleaner of the government's Leisure and Cultural Services Department building. Seeing that the workers around her were showing obvious symptoms, she and other colleagues asked the company to arrange for the workers involved to conduct rapid antigen tests and She was given sick leave, but was rejected by the company. When the worker found a positive result in a quick test, Ah Mei and other colleagues were scolded by the boss for "don't be too busy" and asked the sick worker to continue to work, otherwise it would be regarded as unpaid leave. Ah Mui is worried that it will eventually cause an outbreak of the entire building, as well as a chance to infect the family members of colleagues.
The group urges all cleaning contractors and cleaning companies, if there are confirmed cases or employees who are defined as close contacts, they should not be asked to go to work, and affirm that a positive rapid antigen test is a confirmed result, and strictly abide by the quarantine issued by the Centre for Health Protection order, and provide workers with sufficient information and anti-epidemic kits, and provide reporting and communication mechanisms to let workers know the infection situation at the workplace.
In addition, the group also requires cleaning contractors and cleaning companies to stop unreasonably working overtime. If workers overwork overtime, they should be compensated accordingly. The arrangements for menstrual leave should be fully communicated with workers, and workers’ right to choose should be respected. When workers are assigned to extra work Posts, especially those involved in epidemic prevention work in high-risk areas, should be provided with corresponding compensation and epidemic prevention equipment.
In addition, the group also suggested that the cleaning company replace the doctor’s certificate with a quarantine order for the confirmed workers. Since it was difficult for the workers who contracted the virus in mid-February to obtain a certificate of diagnosis through official channels, the company should consider that most workers are elderly and grassroots communities, which are difficult to digest. Information and online system, urge to use self-declaration instead to provide workers with due sickness allowance.
The group stated that the FEHD should regularly and proactively review the epidemic prevention equipment of frontline cleaners. It is recommended to replace surgical masks with KN95, add protective clothing, hand sanitizer and rapid test kits to deal with highly contagious variant viruses, and provide them at the request of workers Adequate supplies.
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