Macau has announced a pilot scheme to allow the entry of Filipino non-resident workers in order to refill domestic helper positions, a first step towards allowing foreigners back into the city.
The scheme is aimed at providing assistance in the care of those aged 65-years or above, children aged 3 or below or those with illness. 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.
Eligible workers as well as those receiving care must have received at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccine and if the second dose was administered more than seven months ago, a third dose is required.
Health officials explained that the pilot scheme was approved due to the Philippines’ ability to provide clear vaccination records for its citizens.
Aside from Filipino non-resident workers, Macau is also easing restrictions on the entry of foreign teaching staff such as Portuguese teachers, management staff of educational institutions and foreign university students.
All foreigners must still undergo 14-days of quarantine in a designated hotel plus another 7 days self-health management.
The policy comes as mainland China revealed it is reducing the quarantine period for international arrivals into eight cities – Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Dalian, Suzhou, Ningbo, Xiamen and Qingdao – from 14 days to 10 in an encouraging sign that its strict border restrictions could gradually be eased in the coming months.
RelatedPosts
