3,000 Filipino helpers could arrive from next week

The Department of Labour and Employment in the Philippines announced on Sunday that it had reached agreement with the Hong Kong authorities to allow fully vaccinated domestic helpers to fly to Hong Kong from August 30.

The labour secretary, Silvestre Bello III, says as many as 3,000 helpers will be able to fly in, having been unable to take up employment since SAR authorities banned arrivals from the country in April.

He also says employers will have to pay the cost of quarantine hotels, and Hong Kong authorities have been working with hotel operators.

Hong Kong’s Labour Department said on Saturday it would set aside one or two hotels for incoming helpers to spend their 21 day quarantine period in, as both the Philippines and Indonesia are listed as high-risk areas.

It indicated that it was close to agreement on recognising vaccination records from both countries, and a further announcement is expected later this week.