Hong Kong officials dropped a plan to mandate foreign domestic workers be vaccinated against the coronavirus, after hearing international criticism the move would be discriminatory.
Most of Hong Kong’s approximately 370,000 domestic workers come from Indonesia and the Philippines, both severely impacted by the pandemic.
Click to Gallery
Hong Kong officials dropped a plan to mandate foreign domestic workers be vaccinated against the coronavirus, after hearing international criticism the move would be discriminatory.
Those findings prompted the city to order domestic workers to be tested for the virus at the end of April.
On Tuesday, Lam also announced a second round of mandatory tests for domestic workers as a precaution, which will begin on Saturday and last until the end of the May.
Indonesia has reported more than 1.7 million people infected and 47,000 deaths, while the Philippines has confirmed 1.1 million infections and 18,500 deaths from COVID-19.
In this Saturday, May 1, 2021, photo, domestic helpers from the Philippines line up at the temporary testing center for COVID-19, in Hong Kong. Hong Kong officials have dropped a plan to make it mandatory for foreign domestic workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, after the move drew criticism that it was discriminatory. (AP PhotoKin Cheung)
In this Saturday, May 1, 2021, photo, domestic helpers from the Philippines line up at the temporary testing center for COVID-19, in Hong Kong. Hong Kong officials have dropped a plan to make it mandatory for foreign domestic workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, after the move drew criticism that it was discriminatory. (AP PhotoKin Cheung)
Hong Kong officials initially proposed the mandate after a foreign domestic worker tested positive for a coronavirus variant in April, with an unknown source of infection. Another worker arriving from the Philippines had also tested positive for a variant.
In this Saturday, May 1, 2021, photo, domestic helpers from the Philippines line up at the temporary testing center for COVID-19, in Hong Kong. Hong Kong officials have dropped a plan to make it mandatory for foreign domestic workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, after the move drew criticism that it was discriminatory. (AP PhotoKin Cheung)
Those findings prompted the city to order domestic workers to be tested for the virus at the end of April.
The plan for mandatory vaccinations was dropped after officials assessed public health needs and the potential legal issues, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said at a regular news briefing Tuesday.
The Philippines’ Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jr. previously slammed the Hong Kong government for its mandatory vaccination plan for foreign domestic workers, saying that it “smacks of discrimination.”
In this Saturday, May 1, 2021, photo, domestic helpers from the Philippines line up at the temporary testing center for COVID-19, in Hong Kong. Hong Kong officials have dropped a plan to make it mandatory for foreign domestic workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, after the move drew criticism that it was discriminatory. (AP PhotoKin Cheung)
On Tuesday, Lam also announced a second round of mandatory tests for domestic workers as a precaution, which will begin on Saturday and last until the end of the May.
She urged employers to allow the workers to take the test on a workday instead of on their day off.
Hong Kong has so far reported 11,812 infections of the coronavirus, with 210 deaths.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam speaks during a news conference in Hong Kong, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Lam announced Hong Kong officials have dropped a plan to make it mandatory for foreign domestic workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, after the move drew criticism that it was discriminatory. (AP PhotoVincent Yu)
Indonesia has reported more than 1.7 million people infected and 47,000 deaths, while the Philippines has confirmed 1.1 million infections and 18,500 deaths from COVID-19.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam listens to questions during a news conference in Hong Kong, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Lam announced Hong Kong officials have dropped a plan to make it mandatory for foreign domestic workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, after the move drew criticism that it was discriminatory. (AP PhotoVincent Yu)
In this Saturday, May 1, 2021, photo, domestic helpers from the Philippines line up at the temporary testing center for COVID-19, in Hong Kong. Hong Kong officials have dropped a plan to make it mandatory for foreign domestic workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, after the move drew criticism that it was discriminatory. (AP PhotoKin Cheung)
In this Saturday, May 1, 2021, photo, domestic helpers from the Philippines line up at the temporary testing center for COVID-19, in Hong Kong. Hong Kong officials have dropped a plan to make it mandatory for foreign domestic workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, after the move drew criticism that it was discriminatory. (AP PhotoKin Cheung)