Leung Chun-ying cautious on pensions, working hours
Chief executive will make only scant reference to universal pensions and standard working hours, says New People's Party vice-president
In his policy address this week, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying is expected to make only passing mention of two issues that have loomed large in the community this year: standard working hours and universal retirement protection. Both are issues on which consensus has proved elusive.
Leung does not support universal retirement protection and points to the financial debt some Western countries were saddled with after introducing such schemes, said legislator Michael Tien Puk-sun, who joined the chief executive for a breakfast meeting on Wednesday.
Unions have long demanded that the government set standard working hours at about 44 hours a week and require overtime pay for hours worked beyond that.
Tien, who is vice-chairman of the New People's Party, quoted the chief executive as saying that the community could not handle the "shock" if standard working hours were introduced.
"Leung told us it would be more difficult to reach consensus on standard working hours than on a minimum wage," Tien said.
"He said it was very hard to set standard working hours that would apply to all industries and he also mentioned the difficulties of granting exemptions."
In his election platform, Leung pledged to set up a committee comprising government officials, representatives of labour unions and employers' associations, as well as community leaders, to study a standard work week.