LESS than half of around 220,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Hong Kong are vaccinated against Covid-19, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
To ramp up the number of inoculated OFWs and other migrant workers in Hong Kong, Labor Attaché Melchor Dizon said authorities in the special administrative zone of China are now offering them incentives to get their Covid-19 jabs.
“We encourage our fellow Filipinos here in Hong Kong and those stranded in the Philippines to have themselves vaccinated against Covid-19. Otherwise, you will not be allowed entry into Hong Kong. This is also for your protection,” Dizon said in an online briefing last Friday.
He said the incentives include being allowed to choose the brand of vaccine they will get, as well as cash benefits.
The Hong Kong government is offering house and car in a raffle for their residents who get vaccinated.
Hong Kong adopted the policy to address the high vaccine hesitancy among its population.
Of the fully vaccinated OFWs in Hong Kong, Dizon said 1,000 had their vaccination cards validated upon their return arrival in the country.
This is in compliance with DOLE’s Department Order No. 226, series of 2021 so they could avail of a shorter quarantine period in government facilities.
More OFWs are expected to arrive in Hong Kong as officials announced they will soon be lifting the travel ban on the Philippines, which affected 3,000 OFWs, on Monday.
Dizon said OFWs who will arrive in Hong Kong will be required to undergo 14-day quarantine, regardless of whether they are fully vaccinated or not.