Coronavirus: dozens of domestic workers in Hong Kong fired by bosses who assume they have Covid-19, unions say

More than 80 per cent of helpers surveyed say they have experienced increased discrimination since pandemic struck, according to domestic workers’ group

Unions say they have received dozens of complaints from workers fired after falling ill

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Many domestic workers in Hong Kong do not know their rights, unions say. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 6:48pm, 28 Jun 2020Updated: 7:27pm, 3 Aug 2020

Dozens of domestic workers have been fired after falling ill while more than four in five helpers experienced increased discrimination during the Covid-19 pandemic, unions said on Sunday.

However, members of the Hong Kong Federation of Asian Domestic Workers Unions said up to 80 per cent of the 427 helpers it surveyed did not know they could lodge complaints with the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), while those who had approached the federation for help were often scared of hurting their future job prospects if they filed complaints.

“This survey found out most migrant workers did not know they could file cases about discrimination,” said Shiella Estrada, secretary of the federation, which represents both local and foreign domestic workers.

“This is why we are calling on the EOC to reach out to more migrant workers to let them know about programmes and protections for migrant workers.”

Federation organiser Peggy Shek (left), chairwoman Phobsuk Gasing, Shiella Estrada and Chuni Thapa. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong has nearly 400,000 domestic workers – mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia. Unions had previously criticised the government for not providing enough protection to those quarantined with employers during the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected more than 1,100 people in Hong Kong and nearly 10 million worldwide.