聖公會聖約翰座堂外勞事工中心自1981年起致力為移民家務工人服務，我們相信在社會追求公共衛生時，不應將移民家務工排除在外。
因昨日再增加兩確診病例，使香港的總確診人數達到17人，新型冠狀病毒（2019-nCoV）更懷疑已在本地傳播。在社會人心惶惶、人人自危的情況下， 社會上脆弱的一群，移民的家務工人似乎被忽視了。尤其是在香港勞工處呼籲移民家務工人在其休息日留在家中，此舉動促使一些僱主訂下規則，要求工人必須留在家中。自上週起，我們發覺許多人被禁止外出休息。不幸的是，我們更發現，有一些僱主因擔心自己的健康受影響，要求與家務工人終止了合約或要求工人縮短工作日在家裡逗留的時間，即使事件中的工人完全沒有任何患病症狀。
作為香港社會的一分子，我們了解最近新型的冠狀病毒（2019-nCoV）的不確定性令社會上充滿了焦慮和恐懼。然而，在這個充滿挑戰的時刻，我們希望在此呼籲香港社會和所有僱主也向我們的照顧者、我們的移民家務工人表達關懷。我們相信，若然在這抗疫的一仗放棄一個群體的健康，這將意味著整個香港社會的失敗。
每個移民家務工人都是家庭的一分子。作為香港社會不可分割的部分，移民家務工人也應得到同等的照顧。我們認為，為防止病毒傳播，包括移民家務工人在內的所有人都應獲得清潔的醫療口罩、消毒劑，同時應得到足夠的休息。然而，令人失望的是，我們發現一些移民家務工人沒有被提供口罩和消毒劑。有些人甚至在沒有口罩的情況下要到菜市場。
我們了解到，有些僱主可能無法為移民家務工人提供足夠數量的口罩和消毒劑。我們希望僱主與我們合作，呼籲香港政府確保移民家務工的口罩和消毒劑提供。
隨著今日香港發生的情況，移民家務工人受到的影響絕不比香港其他人少。有報導顯示，由於菲律賓的入境限制宣佈得十分倉促，有部分的菲律賓家務工人無法返回香港。早前亦有一名來自菲律賓的家務工人在其僱主的武漢被確診後需接受隔離。由於菲律賓實行了強制性的14天檢疫，移民家務工人除了在返回香港時遇到困難外，還可能在回鄉休假方面遇上困難。因此，鑑於最近爆發疫症以及菲律賓的入境限制，我們呼籲僱主們給予最大的同理心。
確保每個人都得到同等的照顧和保護，以免受病毒感染，這是對整個家庭以及整個社會的更好保護。因此，我們相信，必須使移民家務工人能夠採取預防措施，如正確戴口罩、消毒雙手、保持身體健康和避免前往擠擁的地方。
上述提及有關移民家務工人近日遇到的情況，外勞事工中心敦促香港政府：
一. 確保移民家務工人能獲取口罩和消毒劑；
二. 應對市場上外科口罩和消毒劑短缺的問題；
三. 協助因航班取消而難以返回香港的移民家務工人；
四. 確保在香港抗疫的時刻，移民家務工人不會受到歧視、排斥和忽略移
五. 確保移民家務工人不被強迫在僱主家裡勞動／有休假的權利。
另外， 如社會上有人有額外的的口罩，消毒劑的口罩、消毒劑、異丙醇（按體積計至少含酒精70％）和抗菌洗手液，我們希望在此呼籲香港人捐贈任何數量予本中心。 我們將分發給白恩逢女移民工庇護中心（或名白恩逢之家），一所為陷入困境的女性移民住宿的庇護中心，以及其他因僱主未能提供口罩等的工人。捐贈者可在辦公時間內致電中心電話（25228264），或在辦公時間外致電白恩逢之家熱線（27213119）。中心地址位於中環花園道4-8號聖公會聖約翰座堂。
在危機中，我們需要互相關顧。讓我們一同努力成為當下的曙光！
English version
MFMW urges Hong Kong society to include Migrant Domestic Workers in the fight against new virus
The Mission For Migrant Workers of St. John’s Cathedral, a Hong Kong non-governmental organization in the service of migrant workers since 1981, believes that migrant domestic workers should not be left out in pursuit of good public health.
With two new cases confirmed yesterday, it took the total number of cases in Hong Kong to 17. The recent novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)cases were suspected to have been transmitted locally. A vulnerable section of society, migrant domestic workers seem to be neglected especially when the Hong Kong Labour Department suggested migrant domestic workers avoid taking their day off every week. This has prompted some employers in imposing this as a rule that the workers must follow. Many of them since last week, were not allowed to enjoy their rest day. Unfortunately, we also noticed that some of the workers were being terminated from the contract or being told to shorten their stay at home on working days, due to the employers’ fear of getting sick from their domestic worker, who has shown no symptoms at all.
As part of Hong Kong society, we understand that the uncertainty of the recent novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) drives anxiety and fear. However, we appeal to the Hong Kong society and all employers to show their care also for our caregivers, our migrant domestic workers, in this challenging time. We believe that forgoing the health concerns of one sector means failure of the whole Hong Kong society.
Each migrant domestic worker is part of a household. As integral part of Hong Kong society, MDWs should be given equal care. We believe that to prevent the virus from spreading, everyone including migrant domestic workers should have access to clean surgical masks, healthy food, and sanitizers, and should get enough rest. However, it is disappointing that there are cases wherein MDWs are not provided surgical masks and sanitizers. Some are even provided with no masks to the market.
We understand that some employers may be unable to provide sufficient number of surgical masks, as well as sanitizers to migrant domestic workers. We would like to encourage employers to work with us in appealing to the Hong Kong authorities to ensure that migrant domestic workers are provided such.
With what is happening in the city, MDWs are affected not less than any other people in Hong Kong. There are reports of distraught Filipino domestic workers unable to return to Hong Kong due to the hastily declared travel ban in the Philippines. A Filipino domestic worker placed in quarantine after her employers’ relatives from Wuhan confirm being infected. Apart from having difficulties to return, MDWs may experience difficulties taking their annual leave as the compulsory 14-day quarantine is implemented. We therefore appeal employers to exercise utmost empathy in light of the recent outbreak of virus, as well as the travel ban in the Philippines.
To ensure everyone receives the same level of care and protection from the virus is means better protection of the whole household, as well as the whole society. Therefore, what must be done is to enable migrant domestic workers to take preventive measures, such as properly wearing masks and sanitizing hands, maintaining good health, and avoiding crowded areas.
Regarding situations mentioned which Migrant Domestic Workers encountering, the MFMW is urging the Hong Kong government:
1. To ensure Migrant Domestic Workers have access to surgical masks, as well as sanitizers;
2. To act on the shortage of surgical masks, as well as sanitizers in the market;
3. To assist migrant domestic workers who experience difficulties in getting back to Hong Kong due to cancellation of flights;
4. To ensure migrant domestic workers will not be discriminated, isolated, and excluded in the fight against the new virus; and
5. To ensure MDWs are not forced to work at employers home/are entitled to rest days.
The Mission would also like to appeal to Hong Kong people to donate any amount of surgical masks, sanitizers, isopropyl alcohol (at least 70% alcohol by volume), and antibacterial liquid hand soap. These will be distributed to the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, a shelter for distressed women migrants, and other MDWs whose employers are incapable of providing for them. Interested parties can call us during office hours at the Mission’s number (2522 8264) or the Bethune House hotline after office hours (27213119). Drop off point is at the Mission For Migrant Workers centre (St. John’s Cathedral, 4-8 Garden Road, Central).
We need to look out for each other during a crisis. Let us all strive to be the light in these times.
Video of the International Migrants Alliance press conference on response to the Labour Department's announcement
國際移民聯盟回應勞工處公佈記者招待會錄影
基進報導（radicalhk）
International Migrants Alliance（國際移民聯盟）
Jaringan Buruh Migran Indonesia（印尼移工網絡）