Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24) — Philippine Consul General in Hong Kong Raly Tejada believes it was not discrimination but simply the fear and panic among the city’s residents which drove some employers to fire virus-hit overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Tejada said this on Thursday when told in a media briefing that even uninfected OFWs felt they too were being discriminated against and closely monitored by their employers even on their days off.
The official thinks this is not the general sentiment among Filipinos in the special administrative region, adding that viewing the people of Hong Kong as discriminatory because of the recent events is also “a bit unfair.”
“Hong Kong is a progressive city, and many of its citizens are open-minded and very accepting of all cultures, including Filipinos,” he said in a Department of Foreign Affairs briefing.
“I think we need to just first understand that the fear of the virus is probably the main driving force that made several unwanted actions that happened last week,” he continued.
According to Tejada, the city of 7.5 million residents was largely unprepared for the fifth wave of infections, which has seen thousands of people infected daily. He said hospitals became a “war zone,” with long lines of patients hoping to get admitted.
“Because for months’ end, we were like…zero virus,” he said. “So, there was confusion, there was panic, but things have subsided and stabilized. And with that, I just appeal for those people who believe there is discrimination to have more understanding and to look at it in that sense.”
He added that some of those earlier reported to have kicked out their infected OFW dorm mates were Filipinos, who, Tejada said, were also probably afraid of contracting the virus.
Seventy-seven virus-stricken Filipinos in Hong Kong have requested assistance from the Philippine government amid the fresh wave, according to Tejada. He said all are now either in hospitals or in isolation facilities.
He also reiterated that authorities have already convinced some employers to again hire the OFWs that they laid off. Still, the government has warned these employers may face a labor case and may be blacklisted if found guilty of illegal termination.
“If we need to file charges, then we will do so,” Tejada said. “And of course, we also issued warnings to the employment agencies, as well as of course a general warning to all employers not to do a similar act in the future, because they will face charges, definitely, if it so merits.”
