Don't single out maids as flu spreaders, unionist says
Domestic helpers should not be singled out as spreaders of the swine flu virus, a unionist urged yesterday, as tens of thousands of maids packed the pedestrian area in Central on the 111th anniversary of the Philippines' independence.
Undersecretary for Food and Health Gabriel Leung said on Saturday that employers should consider giving flexible days off to domestic helpers to avoid large crowds on Sundays. He made the comment after the first Filipino domestic helper tested positive on Saturday, after arriving from the Philippines on June 10.
But Mission for Filipino Migrant Workers board member Edwina Santoyo said Professor Leung's recommendation was discriminatory. 'Most of us need to go to church on Sundays. We need a day off like that to meet friends and relatives.'
She said swine flu patients included Filipinos and Chinese, and so it was not only domestic helpers who needed to take precautions. 'Chinese people go out as well; they also go to markets like we do. They could also be a source of the virus.'
Instead of having flexible days off, Ms Santoyo said it was better to step up precautionary measures when workers met on Sundays.
'Pastors in the church already told worshippers not to shake hands after Sunday Mass. We would just wish each other peace verbally,' she said, adding that the mission had reminded all members to wear a mask if they showed any flu symptoms.
She said every maid feared catching any flu, as that would mean a termination of the job and a loss of income.
'We do not want to get sick as well. We are doing our best to avoid catching any disease.'
To celebrate Friday's Independence Day, a carnival was held around Chater Garden yesterday, attracting about 1,000 Filipino domestic helpers. Dressed in colourful traditional costumes, some sang and danced in the parade. Spectators packed the area, but only a handful wore masks.
Filipino domestic helper Lani Nazareno said she wore a mask because her employer had asked her to.
'My boss told me there was a confirmed swine flu case of a Filipino maid in Hong Kong. He asked me to wear a face mask whenever I go to crowded areas,' said Ms Nazareno, who has been working in Hong Kong for two years.
She said she was worried about a potential flu outbreak within the Filipino community.
'I may avoid gatherings later if [the spread of swine flu] gets serious.'
Melinda Cortal, who also wore a mask, was worried about a community outbreak.
'I am worried because I was there during the Sars [outbreak]. It was hard for me to go anywhere,' she said, referring to severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Responding to the government's suggestion of flexible holidays so maids could avoid crowds on Sundays, Ms Cortal said she had no plans to avoid gatherings. 'It is sensible to avoid the crowds but the situation is not that bad now.'
Another woman who has been a domestic helper for 10 years said: 'I need to have holidays on Sundays so that I can go to Mass.'
A 28-year-old domestic helper tested positive for human swine flu on Saturday, after arriving in Hong Kong on Wednesday from the Philippines.
