Hong Kong and Macau

May Day 2009 in Hong Kong and Macau

Workers should not be made scapegoats for the economic crisis

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions is organizing a Mayday rally to “Promote Livelihood, Oppose Exploitation, and Fight the Economic Crisis!” Several thousands are expected to attend the rally which begins in the afternoon while the pro-Beijing trade union the HKFTU, will as usual be organising a much smaller pro government rally for their members.

The themes for this years rally include calls for collective bargaining, unemployment benefits, jobs, the worker transport subsidy; minimum wage legislation and the regulation of working hours.

Hong Kong remains the only developed city with no legislation governing minimum wages and maximum working hours.

See Declaration below

Macau

In Macau, several groups and independent trade unions including the United Free Union of Gaming and Construction Workers of Macau, the Macao Workers’ Union and the Macau Labourer and People’s Spirit Association are organising a rally around the central theme of eliminating control over political life by local big business as well as calls for tighter controls over the use of illegal and imported cheap labour. The protests will begin at midday and will end with a petition to the Macau SAR government and the Chinese Liaison Office in Macau.

In a recent interview, the Macau Labourer and People’s Spirit Association confirmed that “Over 90 percent of the members in the Legislative Assembly are businessmen” Many political decisions – like in Hong Kong – are focused on the needs and views of business leaders and profit making. This has been especially true in the recent financial crisis with many business leaders in both Macau and Hong Kong calling for cutting back on the already scare labour safeguards.

The other issue for the Macau march remains that of the excessive use of imported labour who have fewer protections and benefits than local workers and are generally paid less – many are illegally brought in despite government promises to tighten the quota system in place. Many companies in Macau have been accused of using cheap imported labour wile dismissing local labour.

"By participating in the protest, people can express their discontentment to the unfulfilled promises made by the government over the years,”.

May Day Declaration 2009: HKCTU

May Day Rally: Workers should not be made Scapegoats of the Economic Crisis

The global economy has been hit hard by the recent financial crisis and Hong Kong apparently is not immune from it. Judging by what they did in previous financial crises, it is hardly surprising that employers in Hong Kong will continue shifting their financial burden to their workers by massive layoffs, wage-cuts, outsourcing and so on in order to keep their business costs low and their profits high.

The economic crisis has been caused in part by the lack of institutional regulation of the financial sector; it is entirely unacceptable that workers are made to bear the consequences of a crisis they themselves did not create. It is shameful that some enterprises still earning a profit or with huge reserves still make workers bear the brunt of the economic downturn. Some of the big companies even while still making a profit have used the economic crisis as an excuse and have made massive layoffs and compelled workers to take no-paid leave. On top of this, to many people’s dismay, the government’s newly released budget plan has not offered measures to boost employment nor any to mitigate the impact of the economic crisis on the poor.

Struggle against exploitation

Much has been said about a potential and prolonged period of unemployment, even by the government. However no concrete measures have been taken to alleviate the workers’ burden. Workers are being let down! 

The Hong Kong government has every responsibility to mitigate the negative impact of the financial crisis on the poor and on ordinary workers, for example, by increasing social expenditure, by creating more jobs, by providing unemployment assistance and by subsidizing workers’ training. These measures will not only benefit the needy, but will also help shore up the economy by stimulating greater demand. However, given its undemocratic nature and pro-corporate agenda, thus far no such measures have been taken by the government.

To push the government towards moving in the right direction, workers have to unite and make their voices heard. This coming May Day workers will unite for livelihood and dignity.

Showing Workers’ Power on May Day

In times of economic prosperity, workers could scarcely enjoy their share of success and yet they are now being made to pay for the economic crisis triggered by capital. In order to show our discontent at the unholy alliance of big business and the Hong Kong SAR government, we must mobilize as many people as possible to join the May Day rally. We shall make our voice heard loud and clear: workers should not be made scapegoats of the economic crisis.

We are demanding that the government

Launched by Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU)

Sources: Macau Daily 29 April 2009

IHLO
APril 2009