Thousands March To Demand Better Work Conditions

Unionists, workers and concern groups from different political backgrounds joined forces to demand better working conditions for employees to mark Labour Day on Wednesday, with thousands marching to government headquarters in Tamar to voice out their concerns.

Many groups had similar demands, such as increasing the number of statutory holidays from 12 to 17 per year; standard working hours; and legal protection for employees who are unable to get back to work after typhoons pass

One of the larger rallies was organised by the pro-Beijing Federation of Trade Unions. It says 4,500 people took part, to demand, among other things, the government to subsidise MPF payments for low-wage workers.

FTU lawmaker Alice Mak said she intends to table a private member's bill to enact legislation to legally require bosses to give adequate time for staff members to get back to work when number eight typhoon signals are lowered.

A separate rally organised by the Confederation of Trade Unions in the afternoon focused on the group's demand for a 44-hour standard working week. The CTU, which claimed a turnout of 2,200 people, said many low-wage workers currently have to work far more just to make ends meet.

The Alliance for Universal Pension called for a quick end to the MPF offset mechanism – which currently allows employers to deduct their contributions from severance and long-service payments to staff.

Spokesman Anthony Lau said the government's HK$29 billion offer to subsidise businesses over 25 years in return for scrapping the mechanism, isn't fair, and workers should get something as well.

Other groups called for more employment opportunities for the disabled.

In response to the rallies, the government issued a statement pledging to continue listening to the views of employees, employers and other stakeholders, and "take into account employees' interests and employers' affordability in formulating and implementing targeted labour policy initiatives."

A spokesman added that work is continuing to abolish the MPF offset mechanism, and extend maternity leave from 10 to 14 weeks. But he said in the absence of a broad consensus on standard working hours, the administration will instead focus its efforts on formulating working hours guidelines for just 11 designated sectors, to improve the working hours arrangements for employees.

He also noted the statutory minimum wage was raised from HK$34.5 per hour to HK$37.5 per hour on Wednesday, covering all workers except for live-in domestic helpers, student interns and work experience students.

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