The death plunge of Filipina domestic worker Rinalyn Dulluog on Aug 9 has ignited a debate on a gray area in Hong Kong’s labour laws regarding the protection of domestic workers from occupational risks.
Dulluog, 35, died after “falling from a height” while cleaning the window of her employers’ flat in Lohas Park, Tseung Kwan O, a police report said.
While fatal accidents resulting from such an occupational hazard appear rare, an inquiry raised during a Legislative Council session on Jan. 21 last year showed that four workers had fallen to death while cleaning windows between 2010 and 2014. Their nationalities were not given.
Comments on social media, including The SUN’s Facebook page, suggested that the Consulate could explore the possibility of pushing for legislation to exclude window cleaning from the scope of domestic work.
Others say occupational safety training should be included in the orientation seminar for newly arrived domestic workers, although they doubted whether that would be a better strategy than an outright ban.
“Cleaning windows should be banned for domestic helpers. Few cleaning contractors offer such services around Hong Kong and employers can afford hiring professional ones to perform dangerous jobs particularly at heights. The Consulate should look into this,” said a certain Dick Garcia.
Indz Bautista Bengan agreed. “Yes… But how? Cleaning of windows is part of our job, it depends on the employers if they care for their workers,” she said.
The problem is while there is nothing in the local laws that stipulates that window cleaning is part of a domestic helper’s duties, neither is there a guarantee of protection for workers who refuse to do the job.
A commenter by the name of Summer Flame is hoping the practice will be banned, saying her boss orders her to clean the windows almost everyday.
“Dito sa amin almost everyday ako naglilinis. Gusto ni Madam yung sobrang linis. At dahil di abot ng kamay ko ang likod ng salamin at yung stick di sapat para malinisan ang likod, kailangan kong ilabas ang katawan ko sa window,” she said.
She said she realized the risk just now after doing it regularly for some time on the 18th floor of her block. “Rain or shine need ko linisan ang window nila.”
Zezile Aveunalliv, joining the debate from Singapore, said: “It’s so sad to hear another kababayan died again. Dito sa Singapore mahigpit na pinagbabawal na ilabas yung katawan sa bintana. Pag may nakakita, pwedeng makasuhan ang amo. Kaya implemented dito na maglagay ng grills.”
Legislator Chan Kin-por raised the issue of window cleaning with Development Secretary Paul Chan, who replied the Occupational Safety and Health Council had issued brochures relating to domestic helpers’ safety measures during window cleaning.
“OSHC will also continue to organize regularly courses on working-at-height safety for household workers and domestic helpers, and publicity activities to enhance their safety awareness of window cleaning,” Secretary Chan said.
In its booklet on occupational safety, the Labour Department said in its “Points to Note for Employers on Safety and Health Matters” section: “You shall be aware of your FDH’s (helper’s) safety in doing housework. For example, when ‘cleaning a window, you should remind the FDH not to open or lean on the window grille or windowpane, or lean outside the window. Suitable tools should be used to facilitate the work.”
There is, however, no mention of any penalty should an employer fail to comply with the guideline. – VB Lumicao
