A Filipina in Hong Kong was spotted risking her life while cleaning the window panes of a flat in a high-rise building, despite several instances of death among domestic helpers in the city due to window washing in recent years.
Photos of the Filipina standing on the window ledge, while only holding onto the frame without any safety belts or harness were uploaded by Elpie Lepa, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) based in Hong Kong, on her Facebook.
The said photos were taken at Grand Garden Building in August 24, and has since garnered 286 shares. The building is in South Bay Area and the risk of accident due to falling from its heights and slipping from the window ledge is very high.
The Philippine government has banned Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong from cleaning windows of high-rise buildings on October 2016, two months after Filipino domestic helper Rinalyn Dullog fell to her death while washing the window of her employer’s flat on the 49th floor of a high-rise building in Hong Kong.
Records show that since 2015, at least 11 people have accidentally fallen from high-rise buildings while cleaning windows or carrying out renovation work, resulting in death or severe injury.
At least four incidents involved foreign domestic helpers as per South China Morning post article.
The Philippines Consulate in Hong Kong notified maid agencies in October last year that all contracts for Filipino workers will have to stipulate specifically that cleaning the outsides of windows is not part of their job, otherwise the consulate will refuse to endorse them, effectively blocking the hire.
It also urged Hong Kong’s Labour Department to adopt a similar ban, saying only such a move can ensure all domestic helpers are protected.
Dolores Balladares, a spokeswoman for the Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body, said the Hong Kong government must give teeth to the law by imposing severe penalty for employers who force domestic helpers to do window washing even if it would risk their lives.
“For us it’s hard to say no when employers ask us to clean windows, but it’s scary,” AFP quoted Balladares as saying.
“It’s about time for the government to protect the workers.”
Photo credit: Elpie Lepa/Facebook
