By The SUN
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| PCG staff now report for work on alternate days but the office hours are as before (File) |
The Philippine Consulate General has shifted to
work-from-home arrangement for some of its staff in response to a call from the
Hong Kong government for offices to help reduce the number of people on the
streets and stop the surge in coronavirus cases.
“We have shifted to work from home as an alternative
mode starting (Tuesday),” said Consul General Raly Tejada. “We now have two
teams alternately reporting for work.”
But, he quickly added that the office hours of the
Consulate remain the same.
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During the third wave of infection in early July to
August 2020, the Consulate also allowed its staff to work from home on
alternate days, and also shortened its work hours.
Since Feb 4, Hong Kong government staff, save for
those providing essential services, have been told to work from home for a week
amid fears of mass outbreak of infections after the Lunar New Year holidays.
With the cases continuing to mount, it is likely that
the arrangement which is due to end Friday, will be extended for at least
another week.PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE
In announcing the new work arrangement, the Civil
Service Bureau appealed to employers in the private sector to also allow their staff to
work from home to minimize social contacts among them and reduce pedestrian
traffic.
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Congen
Tejada also allayed fears that unvaccinated people will no longer be allowed to
enter the Consulate starting on Feb 24 when the vaccine pass scheme is due to
take effect.
“We
will not discriminate,” he said. “Pagsisilbihan
po natin ang lahat ng Filipino.” (We will serve all Filipinos.
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The
fear appears to stem from the government’s statement that private premises where
many people gather like malls, supermarkets, department stores, churches and
even beauty salons, will soon be requiring people to show proof of vaccination
before being allowed entry.
United
Centre building where the Consulate and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office
are located, is partly commercial, so it could technically fall under the mall
category.
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But
in explaining the new regulation, the Permanent Secretary for Food and Health Thomas Chan
said there will be no one checking for vaccination proof of everyone entering
the scheduled or restricted premises. Instead, random checks will be conducted
to ensure people inside the premises had at least one dose of a Covid-19
vaccine.
But
he also said offices (like the Consulate) are exempted from the vaccine and
social distancing regulations.
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