KINONDENA ng mga bukluran ng migranteng manggagawang Pilipino sa Hong Kong ang plano ng pamahalaan na obligahin ang mga Pinoy domestic helpers na magpabakuna muna kontra-Covid-19 bago sila muling payagang makapagtrabaho roon.
Kaugnay nito, nagtataka si Philippine Consul General to Hong Kong Raly Tejada kung bakit ang mga DH lang ang target ng pwersahang pagbabakuna.
“We were not directly consulted on this new measure. It would have been better if concerned Consulates like the Philippines, Indonesia and other countries of origin were consulted on this matter as it involves the substantive rights of our nationals,” ani Tejada sa kalatas.
“The Consulate has been supportive of HK’s ‘free and voluntary’ vaccination program and have actively campaigned for this. However, our nationals need not be forced to take the vaccine,” dagdag niya.
Inanunsyo ng Hong Kong ang plano nitong obligahin ang 370,000 domestic helpers, kabilang ang mga Pilipino, na magpabakuna bilang requirement sa pagre-renew ng kanilang kontrata.
Binibigyan din ng mga otoridad ang mga domestic helpers nang hanggang Mayo 9 para sumailalim sa pagsusuri.
Kamakailan ay dalawang domestic helpers ang nadiskubreng may mutated strain ng Covid-19 virus.
“If vaccination becomes a condition to work in HK then its application should be non-discriminatory so that there is no feeling among our FDHs that they are being singled out. Maraming non-residents din na similarly situated at pareho ang linya ng trabaho so bakit FDH lang?” dagdag ni Tejada.
“Wala pang date of implementation ang mandatory vaccination sa mga magre-renew ng visa or mag-transfer so we will work hard na kausapin sila para sana di na ito maituloy,” aniya pa.
Sinabi naman ng mga grupo ng manggagawang Pilipino sa Hong Kong na “discriminatory and unjust” ang plano.
“This is clearly an act of discrimination and stigmatisation against migrant domestic workers,” ani Dolores Balladares Pelaez, chairperson ng United Filipinos in Hong Kong.
“Again, we are being singled out and targeted.” Sinegundahan naman ito ni Eni Lestari, chairperson ng International Migrants Alliance, na sinabing “unfair and shocking” ang panukala dahil karamihan din ng mga amo ng mga domestic helpers ay bantulot na magpabakuna.
“A lot of employers also do not get vaccinated because of health, personal or even political reasons, so they won’t force their workers to be vaccinated,” aniya.
Dinepensahan naman ni Hong Kong labor secretary Law Chi-kwong ang pagpapabakuna bilang requirement para sa work visa.
“They can choose not to work in Hong Kong as they are not Hong Kong residents,” ani Law.
Pwersahang pagbabakuna sa OFWs sa HK inalmahan
