The Philippines’ top diplomat in Hong Kong said Tuesday it was illegal and “immoral” for residents to fire and turf out domestic workers who test positive for the coronavirus, as the Chinese city endures its worst outbreak yet.
Charities said last week that foreign domestic workers in the wealthy city were being “abandoned” amid the COVID-19 wave, with some forced to sleep outdoors or being denied treatment after testing positive.
Residents live in one of the world’s most densely packed cities and rely on some 370,000 foreign domestic workers — the vast majority women from the Philippines and Indonesia — who cook, clean, and care for their families.
Consul-General Raly Tejada said the mission had helped 31 Filipinos who sought its help for hospitalisation or access to isolation rooms, adding 61 in all had tested positive
