Domestic helpers entry exemption scheme to be extended to Indonesian nationals

The trial entry exemption scheme for Filipino domestic helpers and caregivers will be extended to Indonesian nationals starting from May 23 under the same conditions announced before, health authorities revealed today (Thursday).

The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre considered that there was still a large need by local families to hire domestic helpers for the number of applications received so far.

Some 20 applications under the scheme had been received so far, with eight approved, eight rejected for not meeting the required conditions, and four under review.

“The Health Bureau will continue to evaluate the exemption of entry restrictions for foreign domestic workers of other nationalities, including Vietnamese,” Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre Coordinator Dr. Leong Iek Hou added in the weekly pandemic update press conference.

Under the scheme kickstarted this month, households with children aged 3 to 12 years, with ill members or people with disability, or with people aged over 65 are eligible to file applications.

From May 23 the scheme will also be expanded to allow anyone with a need for domestic help will be eligible to file applications, subject to additional criteria.

The announcement comes after Philippine Consulate General in the Macau SAR stated that in other to comply with the country’s overseas labour regulations the entry exemption scheme advanced for Filipino domestic workers should request a minimum salary of equivalent to US$1,200 (MOP9,700) for a professionally-trained and government-certified caregiver.

The average monthly salary for domestic helpers in Macau is currently between MOP3,000 and MOP4,000 excluding subsidies for accommodation.

In order to be eligible for the program, prospective Filipino domestic workers must have as their purpose of application to take care of the elderly, young children and the sick and have already obtained an entry permit for domestic work purposes.

Applications must be submitted to the Labour Affairs Bureau which will check the applicant’s needs and provide a list of eligible employers to the Public Security Force.

The workers, their care recipients and the people living with the care recipients must conform to the COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

People entering under this scheme must still undergo 14-days of quarantine in a designated hotel plus another 7 days of self-health management, with employers having to agree to pay any quarantine or hospitalization costs.

Macau residents and non-resident workers – including Filipino workers – coming from overseas destinations and Taiwan have to carry out quarantine at the medical observation specialised facility already set in the Treasure Hotel.