New law sought to protect Pinoy maids from lethal falls in HK

A pro-migrant rights group in Hong Kong is pushing for a new law that will protect foreign domestic workers from dangerous window-cleaning work, a report on Hong Kong Economic Journal said.
The report said the International Migrants Alliance (IMA) is likewise urging the Hong Kong government to revisit its work safety regulations after Filipina maid Rinalyn Dullulog fell to her death while cleaning the windows of her employer's flat in a high-rise building in August.
Eni Lestari, IMA chairperson, said Hong Kong should adopt a law similar to Singapore where foreign maids are barred from cleaning windows of high-rise buildings without adequate safety restrictions.
In a 2012 safety circular, Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said employers or their representative must be "physically present to supervise the foreign domestic workers" when cleaning the exteriors of their flat's windows.
Window grilles must also be installed and locked during the entire cleaning process.
Lestari noted that while the Philippines had issued a circular that will bar Filipino maids from cleaning the exterior of windows beginning on October 15, it allegedly softened its position after meeting with Hong Kong officials.

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