Official dismiss "discriminatory" proposal to ban domestic workers’ Sunday gatherings

Government official has dismissed possibilities of banning Hong Kong’s domestic workers from their Sunday gatherings to prevent infections, saying it will constitute racial discrimination which is prohibited by the law.

The comments were made after lawmaker Elizabeth Quat Pui-fan from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong raised the "discriminatory" proposal.

She said domestic workers in Hong Kong may pose a health threat to the city, where they were seen gathering on Sundays.

“The government simply call on employers of the workers to discuss rest day arrangements with them, authorities should instead implement a ‘holiday lockdown order’ to clamp down infections induced by the domestic worker clusters,” said Quat.

Law Chi-kwong, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare said although Hong Kong has so far seen over 400 cases involving domestic workers, implementing such lockdown measures for them may be discriminating.

“It is also morally unacceptable to ground the domestic workers at their workplace, banning them to go outdoors,” said Law.