Hong Kong fire will not deter Filipino helpers from working in city: minister

A deadly Hong Kong blaze that claimed the lives of several domestic helpers will not deter Filipinos from working in the city, the Philippines’ migrant workers minister has said, adding that the city has always been a “safe haven”.

Speaking to the Post during a visit to Hong Kong on Tuesday, Hans Leo Cacdac, secretary for the Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers, said his government would provide financial assistance to affected helpers and support for their children.

He also touched on how the tragedy had impacted people back in the Philippines, saying the son of Maryan Pascual Esteban, a helper who died in last week’s fire, now aspired to become a firefighter.

Esteban was among the 10 helpers who died in the tragedy. The other domestic workers were from Indonesia. At least 156 people were killed in the blaze.

Cacdac, who came to Hong Kong to follow up on the fire’s aftermath, stressed that all the affected helpers he had approached during his one-day trip wanted to stay on in the city, despite the tragedy they had experienced.

“In a calamity such as this, not labour-related, it’s the case that employer and employee always want to continue their relations,” he said.