Should Hong Kong’s employees have the legal right to ask for flexible working terms?
As Britain fuels debate over non-fixed work hours and locations, one legislator argues Hong Kong should have regulated work hours first
Britain has recently introduced a law to the envy of all Hong Kong workers - they now have the legal right to request flexible working hours and locations.
While some labour experts say flexible working is a global and inevitable phenomenon, one labour sector lawmaker believed the British law to be way beyond the city's horizons, and an employer said non-fixed hours could work but flexible locations would not.
Since June 30, all employees in Britain have the legal right to request flexible work if they have been with the same employer for at least 26 months.
John Henderson, Asia-Pacific chief financial officer at workplace provider Regus, said research showed that flexible working meant higher productivity and creativity.
"People who are able to plan their lives are more productive and more successful," he said.
Manfred Lau Man-fung, whose firm is a member of the General Chamber of Commerce's small and medium enterprise committee, said unlike in Britain, in Hong Kong everyone was within an hour from almost everywhere. This made flexible locations irrelevant.
"But flexible working hours can work," Lau said. "If everyone has to cram into the crowded MTR at 9am, why don't we give them some flexibility?"