Plight of Pinoy workers saddens him
President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the immediate repatriation of some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong who were fired by their employers after testing positive with COVID-19 and being forced to sleep in parks and streets.
In his late-night public address Monday, Duterte said he was saddened to learn of the unfortunate plight of OFWs infected with the virus as a result of the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in the Chinese special administrative region.
Hong Kongers stripped shop shelves bare Tuesday as panic buying set in following mixed messaging from the government over whether it plans a China-style hard lockdown this month.
Uncertainty over Covid rules has sent the city’s residents flocking to supermarkets, chemists, and vegetable stores to stock up, leaving shelves empty across the city.
“Our government is promptly responding to the situation, primarily through our Consulate in Hong Kong, and has been providing protection and assistance to our kababayans such as ensuring and securing isolation facilities for their fast recovery,” Duterte said.
He directed Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to spearhead the operations for repatriation services.
Lorenzana is now closely coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Consulate for the deployment of government air assets, such as C130s, and/or chartered commercial flights to be sent for those who want to be repatriated.
Reports said at least 45 OFWs were displaced and forced to stay in parks after they were rejected by their employers.
There are some 220,000 Filipino workers in Hong Kong. They constitute the largest ethnic minority in the Chinese city.
The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong said Tuesday about 190 OFWs now have COVID-19.
Labor attaché Melchor Dizon said 16 OFWs have recovered, while the rest are on the mend in isolation facilities.
The Philippine Overseas Labor Office has also prepared a boarding house for OFWs who cannot return immediately to their employers.
Manila is also coordinating with various non-governmental organizations to help OFWs with COVID-19.
Dizon said some employers are hesitant to take back OFWs after they contract COVID-19, but the POLO is talking to them to reconsider.
Some of the workers came to the end of their contracts with their employers and thus could not return, he told TeleRadyo.
According to the POLO tally, about 123 OFWs with COVID still have live contracts with their employers.
“We have no reports that they have been terminated. Here, (OFW contract) termination must be reported to the immigration. They can’t just do it at a whim,” Dizon said.
Employers would face a penalty of HK$100,000 if they fired OFWs for COVID-19, the Hong Kong government warned.
