Hong Kong’s government recently gave out the order to begin the COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory and focusing on the thousands of foreign workers or expatriates in the area.
On May 3rd, via press briefing, Rolly Francia, the agency’s Information and Publication Service Director, stated:
“Mino-monitor po ng Department of Labor and Employment yung pagpapatupad ng bagong patakaran na mandatory vaccinations sa Hong Kong.”
(The Department of Labor and Employment [DOLE] is at the moment monitoring the new rules Hong Kong shall implement, which is mandatory vaccinations.)
“At batay po sa kung anong mangyayari diyan ay gagawa po ng hakbang ang kalihim na si Silvestre Bello [III] upang tugunan ang anumang magiging epekto nito sa ating kababayang mga OFWs sa Hong Kong.”
(Secretary Silvestre Bello III will take the needed steps to respond to the possible effects of the rules on our OFW, who are now in Hong Kong.)
Would there be news or updates from the current situation? Francia shared that Secretary Bello may offer a remark this Tuesday if and when there’s a requirement for developments.
According to the reports, the Hong Kong government issues that all foreign workers should take the jab for anti-COVID or be stripped of their contracts and no longer be eligible for renewal.
What happens to the would-be ex-pats going in the country?
For them to be given legal entry, they need to be inoculated first.
The Philippine Consulate General were not offered any advise of the Hong Kong government’s plans. Although the Philippines do support the country’s efforts for their vaccine roll out, it does not believe that enforcing it as a condition for work is ethical.
Secretary Bello III accuses the Chinese-controlled territory of discrimination against singling out the OFWs or household service workers pursued by the Hong Kong government’s mandatory vaccination rule.
