Labour Department reminds foreign domestic helpers to comply with social distancing measures
2022-01-31
With the Chinese New Year holidays around the corner, the Labour Department (LD) today (January 31) again reminded foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) to comply with social distancing measures announced by the Government.
An LD spokesman said, "According to the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G) and the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I), a person who participates in a prohibited group gathering of more than four persons in a public place or fails to wear a mask in accordance with the requirement may be charged a fixed penalty of $5,000. During the Chinese New Year holidays, the LD will conduct mobile broadcasts in multiple languages at popular FDH gathering places across the territory to call upon FDHs to comply with the relevant requirements. On February 1 to 3, the LD will, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Police Force, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Home Affairs Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, conduct joint operations at Central, Tamar Park in Admiralty, Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, the footbridge near Fa Yuen Street in Mong Kok, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, Lai Chi Kok Park and elsewhere. Relevant departments will take enforcement action against those who still refuse to abide by the regulations after repeated reminders.
"We remind FDHs to strictly observe the requirements and appeal to them to avoid gatherings (including those in boarding facilities), food sharing and other social activities on their rest days and holidays in order to safeguard their personal health and reduce the risk of infection."
Hong Kong residents, including FDHs, can get vaccinated against COVID-19 free of charge. For booking and details, please visit the designated website of theCOVID-19Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk). The Government appeals to FDHs to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect themselves and others.
Should FDHs and their employers have any enquiries on employment matters, they may contact the LD through the dedicated FDH hotline at 21579537 (manned by 1823), by email to fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk or through the online form on the dedicated portal (www.fdh.labour.gov.hk).
Ends/Monday, January 31, 2022
