Coronavirus: thousands of domestic helpers set to return to Hong Kong as talks with Philippines, Indonesia progress over Covid-19 jabs
- But employment agency trade group warns of potential delays if city does not prepare enough quarantine hotels to serve influx
- Labour Department says there is ‘hope arrangements can be announced after a consensus is reached next week’
But an employment agency trade group warned of potential delays if the city did not prepare enough quarantine hotels to serve the influx, estimating around 2,000 workers were ready to fly into the city.
In a reply to the Post on Saturday, the Labour Department said officials were making good progress in talks with the Philippine and Indonesian consulates in the city on recognising vaccination records.
“There is hope that the arrangements can be announced after a consensus is reached next week,” the department said.
“The government plans to arrange for these helpers to stay in quarantine in one to two specific hotels and it is discussing the details. After finalising the arrangements, the government will announce the details separately.”
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Earlier this month, officials announced that helpers from both countries, which the government classified as being in the highest-risk category for Covid-19, would be able to return if they had been vaccinated in Hong Kong. But all must quarantine for 21 days upon entry in the specified hotels.
