Hong Kong

May Day Rally in Hong Kong: Economic Prosperity for all

An estimated 2,500 people took to the Hong Kong streets on 1 May in a march from Victoria Park, Causeway Bay through the heart of Hong Kong to Government headquarters in Central district.

The main demands were for:

Minimum Wages
Standard Working Hours
Increased Wages
End to Privatization 

The march was organised by the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions and some 20 other union groups.

The workers included members of the Jockey Club Trade Union who are currently fighting for better working conditions and rest periods as well as a sizeable number of foreign domestic helpers form the Philippines and Indonesia among other places. The domestic workers called for the scrapping of a levy on foreign domestic workers imposed by the government several years ago which effectively cut their wages despite rising living costs.

Another 100 protesters who had arrived at the Central Government Offices earlier demanded that government casual workers be made permanent. The General Secretary of the HKCTU, Lee Cheuk-yan said the government should end outsourcing of so many jobs, a source of abuse by some contractors and employers seeking to reduce wage and benefits bills.

Hong Kong has no minimum wage. According to a large survey in November 2005 [Chinese University of Hong Kong] the average number of working hours per week for those who had not worked any overtime was 48 hours. For those who had worked overtime the average was 54 hours.   Currently most employers expect a five and a half day working week (44 hours).

IHLO
May 2006