A travel ban implemented by the Philippine government is a cause of concern for around 250,000 Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) working as domestic helpers in China’s administrative regions, Hong Kong ang Macau, as they might not be able to earn a living, the Philippine Star reported.
The ban was imposed as part of efforts to curtail the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019 nCoV).
With this predicament, many OFWs in Hong Kong are not keen on returning to the Philippines at this time for fear that they would not have jobs when they return.
So far, there are about 25,000 household service workers (HSWs) on vacation in the Philippines or have new contracts and need to leave for Hong Kong by the end of this month, according to information from the Society of Hong Kong Accredited Recruiters of the Philippines (SHARP).
With Manila-based airlines suspending flights to the two special administrative regions, recruitment consultant and migration expert Emmanuel Geslani said the government should reconsider allowing HSWs to return to their jobs.
The Blas Ople Policy Center has called on the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to issue a resolution that favors the imposition of a temporary deployment ban.
Meanwhile, Labor Undersecretary Renato Ebarle said financial and other forms of assistance are available to OFWs affected by the travel ban in China, Hong Kong and Macau.
