Hong Kong domestic workers ‘angry’ at exclusion from coronavirus relief measures
- Union leaders and advocates say domestic workers should also receive cash handouts designed to help those affected by the Covid-19 crisis
- They accuse the Hong Kong government of discrimination, as many workers complain of being overworked and not getting their weekly day off
“The bottom line is: Hong Kong must provide relief for the domestic workers. But there are no efforts so far. Domestic workers have continued to be excluded. We feel very disappointed and angry because we have been left behind,” said Eni Lestari, an activist and domestic worker from Indonesia.
“The government keeps telling us to share the burden, to stay in the house – although that means more work for us – not to meet our friends, and keep Hong Kong safe … but there are no relief measures that include us,” the chairwoman of the International Migrants Alliance said.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po in February announced a HK$10,000 handout for permanent residents. After backlash from the community, the scheme will be extended to cover low-income new arrivals, such as one-way permits from the mainland and dependents of permanent residents. But foreign domestic workers, those on working holidays, and those admitted through special talent schemes, would still be not be considered.
Dolores Balladares-Pelaez, spokeswoman for the Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body, said the exclusion of migrant domestic workers from the financial assistance programme was “unfair and neglectful”.