Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III slammed as fake news the reports that COVID-hit overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong are being driven away by their employers even after recovering from the disease.
"Hindi totoo 'yun, fake news," he told DZRH about the reports.
(That’s not true, fake news.)
According to Bello, it is prohibited in Hong Kong for employers to terminate employees if they contract COVID-19.
"Bawal 'yung na-COVID ka tapos tanggalin ka ng employer mo, bawal 'yun. Bawal na bawal lalo na sa Hong Kong," said the secretary.
(It is not allowed there for employers to fire workers after getting COVID. It is extremely prohibited especially in Hong Kong.)
"In fact, merong utos na kung merong employer na magtanggal ng empleyado dahil sa COVID, ma-penalize ng HKD300,000 (about P1.9 million)," he added.
(In fact, there is an order there that if employers fire a COVID-hit worker, they will be penalized by HKD300,000.)
Meanwhile, on the reports that OFWs are sleeping on the streets after contracting COVID, Bello clarified that these workers are not sleeping, but waiting for ambulances.
"Naghihintay sila ng ambulansya kasi hindi naman sila pwede sa bus, hindi rin pwede sa taxi, kaya ambulanasya lang ang pwede," he explained.
(They are waiting for an ambulance because they are not allowed on buses nor taxis. They are only allowed on ambulances.)
He added that these workers are now in better conditions.
"Ngayon na-report naman nasa mabuting kalagayan sila, nasa quarantine facilities given by the government ng Hong Kong, meron ding quarantine facilities provided by the NGOs (non-government organizations)," he said.
(Now it is reported that these workers are in good conditions. They are in quarantine facilities given by the Hong Kong government, and in quarantine facilities provided by the NGOs.)
Bello said that there are only 10 remaining COVID-hit OFWs who are still under their care, while the rest have returned to their employers.
The secretary said that there were no severe cases of COVID among OFWs, with the infected ones mostly asymptomatic.
