Outsourcing Work Jeopardises Mail Safety: Union

A union for postal workers has called on its members to join a work-to-rule action over cost-cutting measures at Hongkong Post, which it said is compromising mail safety.

The Union of Hong Kong Post Office Employees said on Sunday that the postal department has recently outsourced some mail-handling work at its airport's air mail centre to a private company, without consulting unions.

"In the past, civil servant staff would work alongside contract workers at the mail centre to ensure service quality and mail safety," the union said.

"But that would no longer be the case for duties now outsourced to the private company."

Separately, the union said some tasks traditionally handled by civil servants – such as mail collection – have now been taken over by contract workers.

Union representatives said the situation is worrying because letters and parcels often contain private information, as well as important or expensive documents and items, such as jewellery.

Apart from the quality of non-civil servant staff, the union's executive officer Ip Kam-fu is also concerned that the department would use these cheaper labour for more duties and hire fewer civil servants in future.

"I think they will reduce the number of permanent staff, the civil servants, so they will affect our establishment," he said.

The union said members are encouraged to strictly follow occupational health and safety guidelines as a way to voice their discontent, such as refuse to carry excessive mail when conducting deliveries.

It also urged the department to strengthen anti-epidemic measures to protect staff.

Instead of just closing post offices one hour earlier than usual on weekdays, it said post offices should only open three days a week with split team working arrangements being put in place.

In response, Hongkong Post said it made the series of changes to address the issue of overtime work by postal workers previously raised by the Audit Commission.

It said contract employees are hired under a strict procedure, with their work performance also closely monitored