Hong Kong plan for compulsory vaccination ‘smacks of discrimination’

MANILA, Philippines — Hong Kong’s plan to make COVID-19 vaccines compulsory for around 370,00 foreign domestic workers before their contracts can be renewed should “not single out any nationality,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said yesterday.

Locsin’s remark is in support of Philippine Consul General to Hong Kong Raly Tejada’s call not to force foreign domestic workers to get vaccinated.

“@DFA Tell him he has my 100% support although all Filipinos in Hong Kong should get vaccinated but I see your point. I had to beg the Cabinet to get our domestic workers back in Hong Kong with (Chief Executive) Carrie Lam’s promise that they are like family and will be protected,” Locsin tweeted.

Hong Kong announced the mandatory COVID-19 testing for foreign domestic helpers by May 9, 2021. Compulsory vaccination will be required of all visa applicants whether for renewal or transfer to new employers.

Tejada said, “If vaccination becomes a provision to work in Hong Kong, then its application should be non-discriminatory and therefore must not only include (foreign domestic workers), but other non-resident workers who are similarly situated so that there is no feeling of being singled out.”

Locsin said Tejada was right that although the effect is good, marking them out “smacks of discrimination and if it is a special favor, it is unfair to other nationalities.”

“He’s got a point; it smacks of discrimination even though we’d all like to be treated that way in the Philippines where we lack vaccines. So, since I did Carrie Lam the favor to get domestic workers back into Hong Kong, make it mandatory for all foreign workers,” Locsin said. “But no singling out of any nationality.”

Tejada said it would have been better if concerned consulates like the Philippines, Indonesia and other countries were consulted as it involves the substantive rights of their nationals.