3 - State-Sponsored Stigma and Discrimination: Female Indonesian Migrants in Hong Kong during the Pandemic

The pandemic has critically affected migrant workers social wellbeing in host countries. In Hong Kong, migrant workers, who particularly work in domestic sectors, are facing stricter rules that may be considered discriminatory and socially excluding. The Hong Kong government claim that migrants are at ‘high risk’ for infection, because of their habit of ‘mingling’ with other migrant workers. The official messaging position migrant workers as ‘virus carriers’. This view point further results in the increase of mental, physical and social exclusion for migrants, in particular female Indonesian domestic migrant workers, who are a vulnerable and marginalised group. This research focuses on how the COVID-19 messaging, that came from the Hong Kong government increased the stigma and discrimination towards domestic migrant workers.