Hong Kong: FADWU's response to the 2017 Hong Kong Policy Address - Some good news some bad news
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HONG KONG -
The 2017 Hong Kong Policy Address brings some good news for domestic workers.
- Excerpt from 2017 Policy Address by Chief Executive on Labour >>>
201. The Standard Working Hours Committee will submit its report to the Government by the end of this month before its term expires. The Government will take full account of the report of the Committee and the views of various sectors of the community, and strive to map out within the term of the current Government the working hours policy direction that suits Hong Kong’s socio-economic situation.
202. Currently, there are over 350 000 foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong, assisting over 280 000 households with housework and taking care of the elderly and children in their families. The Labour Department plans to introduce an amendment bill in the second quarter of this year to provide the legal basis for the newly promulgated Code of Practice for Employment Agencies, and to impose heavier penalties on employment agencies overcharging job seekers or operating without a licence so as to achieve a stronger deterrent effect.
FADWU's viewpoint:
However, this comes mixed with some bad news. The government proposed in paragraph 189 of the Policy Address that the amount of Long Service Payment payable to employees will be reduced. It will be adjusted downwards from the existing entitlement of two-thirds of one month’s wages to half a month’s wages as compensation for each year of service. Although this will only apply to employees covered buy Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes, this is an unacceptable violation of labour rights that we are greatly concerned with.
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