DDHK.ORG - Foreign domestic workers (PRT), including Indonesian migrant workers, who are waiting for their new employer to go to work, can still take the Covid-19 test, which is provided free of charge by the Hong Kong Government. This service is extended, until 15 October 2020.
This was announced by the Hong Kong Labor Department on September 29, 2020. "The Department of Labor announced today that a free Covid-19 testing service for foreign domestic workers waiting to join their new employer will be extended until October 15," the official website of the Government of Hong Kong, news.gov.hk said.
Since the extension of this free service was announced on September 29, eligible foreign domestic workers have been able to call the registration hotline at 1836133 to make an appointment for a joint nose and throat swab test service. The Hong Kong Department of Labor also provides an e-mail address fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk for any inquiries that have to be submitted regarding this service.
“The specimen collection center is at the Harbor Road Sport center in Wan Chai. During the extended service period from 1 to 15 October, registration hotline numbers will operate from 09.00 a.m. to 18.00 p.m. and the specimen collection center will be open from 10.00 a.m. to 17.00 p.m. daily, ”wrote news.gov.hk.
The Hong Kong Labor Department emphasized that this free test for foreign domestic workers is voluntary and free. However, the Department requests active assistance from employment agencies to assist foreign domestic workers to register and take tests at specimen collection centers.
The department also advises employers to confirm whether their new foreign domestic worker has evidence of a valid test result that declares themselves negative for Covid-19, before joining their family.
Previously, a free Covid-19 testing service for foreign domestic workers who were waiting to join their new employers was held from August 25 to September 30. This service is provided by the Government of Hong Kong due to confirmed cases of infection from foreign domestic workers who live in boarding facilities or agency boarding houses. [DDHK NEWS]
