COVID-19 resources need to be accessible for Filipino workers: open letter urging government action
Posted April 8, 2020 5:31 pm.
Last Updated April 8, 2020 5:35 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — An open letter from three non-profit groups urges all levels of government to come up with resources in Filipino for workers on the frontlines.
The trio, which includes Tulayan Filipino Diaspora Society, Sulong UBC, and Migrante BC, say Filipinos make up the fourth-largest visible minority population in Canada, and is also one of the largest groups of temporary foreign workers.
There is lack of information regarding #covid19 in #filipino languages in #BC #FilipinoResourcesNow #covid19inclusion pic.twitter.com/xm3tv1Ryvp
— Tulayan (@Tulayan) March 30, 2020
They say many are on the frontlines of the pandemic working in health care, home care, and customer service jobs, and need access to materials that will help them navigate the crisis.
“The general feedback we are getting from our community is the lack of accessible information regarding the pandemic in Filipino languages,” reads the letter. “While we are doing our best as a community to translate and offer support to each other at this difficult time, we would like to ensure that Filipinos in Canada are getting direct and accurate information form the proper health authorities.”
The letter urges governments to translate resources like prevention strategies, information on symptoms and self-monitoring, as well as guidance on how to seek support during this time into Filipino languages. It cites the top three as Tagalog, Ilocano, Cebuano, but says it isn’t limited to these languages.
The groups believe if the information isn’t made available to these workers, they and the ones they take care of will be at risk.
