Domestic helpers homeless because of Covid-19 (updated Nov 9, 2022)
Since Feb 17, 2022, MercyHK has provided emergency accommodation for more than 300 homeless domestic workers - from the Philippines, Indonesia, India, and Thailand. Of the first 130, most of them Covid positive, about 1/3 were dismissed by employers, about 1/3 were dismissed from hostels, and about 1/3 were stranded at the airport when they tested positive before boarding flights. All of them stayed with us in Jordan. A small group were referred to us by caring employers who did not have quarantine space in their homes and who could not get govt quarantine placement. Another group are involved in court cases or waiting for visa applications. Of the more than 100 (of the first 130) who were transferred to a govt centre, about 50 then came back to us negative for continued quarantine, because still no place to stay. Very worryingly, some of the women who came back negative after spending time in govt quarantine centres tested positive when they went to YMT testing centre for follow up! Some even tested positive for a third time! (c.f. Prince Charles, positive twice). Doctors say it depends on each person's viral load. Many of the 130 women feature in media reports below. Since about May 2022 only a small number of cases have been Covid positive.
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Aug 4: Report by NiuTV
May 3: Report by TheInitium: Online copy; hard copy
April 3: Update SCMP report on Covid homeless domestic helpers (with photo of Dr Jesus Centre)
March 25: Kung Kao Po report in Chinese on MercyHK's help for needy people - website, FB
March 24: TVB report on situation of Covid homeless domestic helpers Another copy here
March 22: The rescuer on Temple Street (SunHK)
March 21: "My boss kicked me out because I caught Covid" (BBC)
March 18: Care for migrant workers amid Omicron surge (Sunday Examiner) - Fr Jun's appeal to employers
March 10: One min video of our new centre in Jordan - MercyHK
Hostel E (can accommodate 16 people). We also have Hostel A (14 people),
Hostel B (10 people), Hostel C (10 people) & Hostel
D .... and the Dr Jesus Centre
which can take 12 people.
March
9: FB program of HK Sun newspaper
March 6: Employers warned over treatment of stricken helpers ((warnings not much use to women sleeping in parks))
March 5: HK Govt statement - firing infected domestic helpers not tolerated (Standard)
March 4: Sunday Examiner report
Feb 25: Report in Chinese (Ming Pao)
Feb 24: Mother & baby left in cold overnight outside hospital (HKFP)
Feb 24: Equal Opportunities Commission statement of concern about infected domestic workers
Feb 24: Infected domestic workers homeless after being fired (Guardian)
Feb 20: Covid-hit helpers must not be left on streets (RTHK)
Feb 20: Infected domestic helpers become homeless (SCMP)
Feb 18: Domestic helpers sleeping rough (SCMP)
Feb 17: Domestic worker spends 2 nights in park (HKFP)
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MercyHK's
help for Covid domestic workers
Time
line from Feb 17, 2022 to April 2, 2022
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April
26: Videos
of domestic helpers hike to Big Wave Bay near Sai Kung:
01 02 03 04 05
06
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