Filipino domestic helpers have allegedly been neglected in Hong Kong with the spread of COVID-19.
Hong Kong has around 340,000 domestic helpers, most hailing from either the Philippines or Indonesia and a rapid spread of COVID-19 has put the plight of domestic helpers in the spotlight.
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Some were fired or made homeless by their employers when they tested positive for coronavirus, even as many families in the city depended on live-in helpers for housekeeping and to look after the elderly and children, with a minimum wage set at HK$4,630 ($593) per month.
The reports from helper support groups and local media of these workers being kicked out or fired have triggered appeals from Philippine authorities for the Chinese-ruled city to protect and support the domestic workers.
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Two domestic helpers said they were abandoned by their employers and left on the streets after testing positive for COVID.
“I was depressed, hopeless, and felt anxiety because I am in a foreign country,” said one of the helpers.
