LD: FDH can get salary if they work while under home quarantine

Screenshot of HK govt's video about compulsory quarantine

Can foreign domestic workers who are under home quarantine still get their salary?

The Labour Department told Hong Kong News that they can – if they continue to work while completing their 14-day home quarantine.

“If an FDH (foreign domestic helper) stays in his/her employer’s residence during the quarantine period and continues to perform domestic duties, the employer should pay the wages earned by the FDH,” the Information and Public Relations Division told Hong Kong News.

The Labour Department added that this was based on what the Employment Ordinance states, where “wages generally means all remuneration in terms of money payable to an employee in respect of work done or to be done.”

Foreign domestic workers – over 217,000 of whom are Filipinos – are expected to stay in their employers’ residence to complete the compulsory quarantine, which the Hong Kong government imposed on March 19 after the rise in imported cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

There are 641 cases of COVID-19 infection in Hong Kong as of March 30, at least 20 of whom involve Filipinos.

“Following the Government’s announcement yesterday on the Red Outbound Travel Alert issued on all foreign countries and territories, and in accordance with the Regulation, the Secretary for Food and Health announced by a notice in the Gazette that the compulsory quarantine requirement would apply to arrivals from all places outside China starting from 0.00am on March 19,” the government said on March 18.

The Labour Department said if employers, however preferred that their domestic workers stay in other places within 14 days, they should inform the employment agencies beforehand and pay for their accommodation.

Employers are also obliged to provide their foreign domestic workers with food allowance.