Quarantine fee in Zhuhai drops to cater to over 200 non-locals

A medical observation hotel in Zhuhai has agreed to allow over 200 constructions workers whose contracts were not renewed to pay only RMB150 in quarantine fees.

Last week, several dozens of non-resident workers staged a protest by walking out of a construction site in Zhuhai to the Liaison Office, urging its employers to pay their quarantine fees.

Such fees will cost these workers some RMB7,000 to RMB8,000 as the neighboring region is requiring arrivals from Macau to undergo a 14-day quarantine period as cases continue to rise

The workers lamented that the cost of quarantine was already higher than the monthly salary they earned in the territory.

According to the Secretary for Security, following negotiation and communication by the Liaison Office, a hotel in Zhuhai expressed willingness to lower room rates.

The official added that most affected workers have already accepted the offer and signed the agreement. They have since been sent to undergo the nucleic acid test and quarantine in Zhuhai. 

According to Wong, the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) will continue to monitor the situation as many are still not satisfied with the arrangement and have called on their employers to cover the costs of quarantine on their behalf.

He added that, after communicating with the Zhuhai authorities, the Macau SAR will follow suit with this approach to deal with similar cases in future. He said he believes the problem can be resolved properly.

On Wednesday night following the protest, DSAL stressed that according to foreign employment law, quarantine fees are not a legal obligation of the employer.

“The authorities call on relevant employees to express their demands rationally, and in response to the pandemic. They should avoid gatherings to prevent the spread of the infection,” DSAL said in a statement. LV