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Alcohol baths, reused masks, and lonely Sundays: Hong Kong domestic helpers feel ‘singled out’ amid coronavirus outbreak

  • Advocates believe as many as half of the city’s domestic workers stayed at home on Sunday, many against their wishes
  • Some who did venture out described being forced to douse themselves with alcohol and hand-wash their clothes after returning

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Representatives from multiple immigrant rights groups attend a press conference on domestic workers facing discrimination during Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. Photo: May Tse

Urged to spend their only day off at their employers’ homes, with some facing termination if they refused, Hong Kong’s foreign domestic workers and rights advocates say the group is being singled out with“unfair and discriminatory” measures from the government and employers alike amid the coronavirus outbreak.

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An appeal from the city’s Labour Department last week asking foreign domestic workers “to stay home” on Sundays – the weekly rest day for most – triggered strong backlash among leaders of civil society groups.

“Domestic workers have been singled out, as if we're the ones potentially carrying the coronavirus,” said Eni Lestari, an activist and domestic worker from Indonesia said on Wednesday.

“We are the people who make sure everyone eats healthy and stays healthy,” Lestari, chairwoman of the International Migrants Alliance, said.

Domestic helpers wear masks as they socialise on their day off in Central on February 2. Activists say as many as half stayed home. Photo: Nora Tam
Domestic helpers wear masks as they socialise on their day off in Central on February 2. Activists say as many as half stayed home. Photo: Nora Tam
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As the price of face masks and disinfectant surges amid the widespread shortage, one Philippine domestic helper said her employer gave her only one to two masks a week to be reused when going to the market.

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