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Phila Siu

Working hours should only be standardised for low-income employees, a committee of government advisers have recommended in a long-awaited report that has outraged and disappointed trade unions.
The proposal, submitted by the Standard Working Hours Committee to Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying on Friday, also states that employers should negotiate with their staff over working hours and overtime payments. All the terms should be written into employment contracts.
Panel head hopes for consensus on standard working hours as committee studies 44-hour plan by unionists
“We all understand that the issue of working hours is a complex one that has always drawn different arguments,” said committee chairman Dr Leong Che-hung. “It is hard to get employers and employees on the same page. If this is not handled properly, this can harm their relationship.
“We have considered the rights and benefits of the workers. But at the same time, we cannot let employers and their companies suffer.”

For years, unions have demanded that working hours be standardised at 40 to 44 hours a week regardless of how much employees are paid. Employers should pay their staff 1.5 times their regular wage for every extra hour worked, they demanded.
To persuade a reluctant business sector to accept such legislation, unionists recently offered an olive branch, proposing a weekly standard of above 44 hours initially to offer some security to workers. The idea was to amend legislation gradually to achieve the 44-hour level over a period of time.
It is hard to get employers and employees on the same page
Committee chairman Dr Leong Che-hung
The committee was set up in 2013 and conducted a series of public consultations over the years.
Under its new proposal, the committee suggested it be mandatory for the business sector to pay “lower-income grassroots” workers overtime payments at a rate no less than their regular hourly wage.
Compromise on Hong Kong working hours finally in sight as unionists propose 44-hour work week
However, the committee did not define “lower-income”. Leong said the committee was not able to draw a salary line because the union representatives on the committee had been boycotting meetings for a year as they criticised a “lack of sincerity” from employer representatives.
The proposal also suggested setting up new committees to look at how industries with relatively long working hours could be helped.
Trade unions reacted to the proposal angrily, saying the “shortsighted” proposal was a step in the wrong direction.

A statement issued by the three labour-sector lawmakers and union representatives at the Labour Advisory Board said the report’s suggestions could not replace what they had been fighting for.
Union representatives have previously said that requiring bosses to negotiate with their staff over working hours and overtime payments would not work as employers could easily bully the workers into accepting unfavourable terms and conditions.
Chief Executive Leung said in a statement: “The government will take full account of the report and the views of various sectors of the community in striving to map out, within the term of the current government, the working hours policy direction that suits Hong Kong’s socio-economic situation.”


Standardise working hours for Hong Kong’s low-income employees only, committee suggests

A worker washes dishes in a restaurant in Sham Shui Po. A government committee report recommends that working hours be standardised only for low-income employees. Photo: Dickson Lee

Distilled water bottles are seen in Central. 02JUN16 SCMP/Felix Wong

Bruce Lee giant pictures are seen at the Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok. 04JUL16 SCMP/K. Y. Cheng

Compromise on Hong Kong working hours finally in sight as unionists propose 44-hour work week

Standard Working Hours Committee member Stanley Ng Chau-pei (centre) said he hoped the committee would study their report. Photo: Felix Wong

Ah Lai, a dishwasher at work in a restaurant in Sham Shui Po. 07OCT16 SCMP/Dickson Lee

Panel head hopes for consensus on standard working hours as committee studies 44-hour plan by unionists

Dr Leong Che-hung (centre) said that the committee had discussed a report submitted by the labour sector last week. Photo: David Wong

44 is the limit? Renewed calls on standard working hours see 300 march in Wan Chai

Leong Che-hung, chairman of the Standard Working Hours Committee, had mentioned that a “blanket approach” to legislation on standard working hours would be inappropriate. Photo: Nora Tam

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Report from Standard Working Hours Committee slammed by unions, who had proposed 44-hour work week


Standardise working hours for Hong Kong’s low-income employees only, committee suggests

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Report from Standard Working Hours Committee slammed by unions, who had proposed 44-hour work week

Report from Standard Working Hours Committee slammed by unions, who had proposed 44-hour work week