Hong Kong Opens Its Doors to Filipino Workers Who Got the Shot at Home
Starting August 30, people from the Philippines who have been fully vaccinated can hop onto the bus (or just fly over) to Hong Kong, says Manila’s Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello. The move eases a long‑running restriction that once barred any Filipino who had their first dose in the Philippines from entering the special administrative region.
How It Works (and Why It Matters)
- Proof That Works: OFWs only need a Philippine‑issued vaccination card. Nothing fancy from Hong Kong – no extra testing required.
- Why It Helps: About 3,000 workers were on the waiting list to work in Hong Kong. That number jumps to 210,000 once you include all the domestic helpers there.
- Economic Boost: These workers send back millions in remittances, which are a lifeline for families across the Philippines.
Why the Change Happened
Hong Kong has always had some of the world’s toughest coronavirus rules, so it previously kept Filipino citizens out if they had been vaccinated abroad. As the Delta variant waves slide through the Philippines, the country is stepping up its immunization campaign, currently covering 11.8 % of its 110 million people.
What the Numbers Say
- New Cases: More than 1.83 million infections in the Philippines, Thailand’s second highest total in Southeast Asia.
- Deaths: Over 31,800 hospital deaths – roughly 2 % of all confirmed cases.
All in all, the new agreement could make life easier for those who love the hustle of Hong Kong and want to keep their families fed back home.
