Law On Time Off During Typhoons Impractical: Govt

The government has rejected calls by some lawmakers to legislate rules to give workers extra time to report for duty after natural disasters, saying it is difficult to club all workers under one regulation.

Last year, chaos erupted after employees tried to get back to work after Severe Typhoon Mangkhut created widespread chaos in Hong Kong as the transport system continued to be disrupted.

During a security panel meeting on Tuesday, some lawmakers said the government should give workers, except those in non-essential services, more time to report back to work during such situations.

But Assistant Commissioner for Labour, Melody Luk, said some workers, for example security guards, can actually help out in such situations, so it is not easy to draw up a law, she said.

The lawmakers had urged officials to consider giving legal protection to workers so that they they won't be penalised if they skip work due to disruption caused by extreme weather and disasters.

Civic Party lawmaker Alvin Yeung had proposed a private member's bill saying the Chief Executive in Council should be given the power to declare a state of disaster, during which only emergency responders have to provide services.

Yeung later told RTHK's Joanne Wong that the government's plan to just provide guidelines to employers will not help, as there is no way to make sure they are followed.