Introducing working hours law for Hong Kong ‘would face uphill battle’
Employers shout down proponents of move at public consultation, showing strength of feeling
Members of a committee gathering the public's views on a possible law to put in place standard working hours in Hong Kong say the attitudes of employers during a recent public-engagement exercise show how difficult it would be to pass such a bill.
The committee members said company bosses who attended meetings on the issue brought supporters and both shouted down labour representatives trying to presents their opinions.
The public-engagement exercise ends today after 37 consultations and rounds of talks organised by the Standard Working Hours Committee.
Trade unionist Chau Siu-chung, one of 23 members of the committee, recalled that in one recent consultation with representatives from the transport trade, about 90 per cent of those present were employers.
"When the workers were talking, the employers were shouting 'boo'. This was not fair for the workers who wanted to make their voices heard," said Chau, who is the treasurer of the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions.
He said he was concerned that because so many people at the sessions loudly opposed standard working hours, the consultancy running the exercise might conclude this was "mainstream opinion".
Fellow committee member Lee Tak-ming said some bosses brought their staff to the consultation to boost the numbers appearing to oppose the law.