HONGKONG'S top supermarket chain is being accused of hounding staff to block the formation of a trades union, with Government officials demanding an explanation from company bosses.
The Labour Department has ordered Wellcome to give reasons for punitive action taken against three employees after it was discovered they were trying to form an in-house union.
Officials want the company to explain why it allegedly sacked a driver, transferred another from Kwai Chung to Fo Tan, and forced a store manager to resign - even though the Government had agreed to the union's registration.
Legislators are also to meet this week to discuss whether anti-union discrimination legislation should be reviewed following Wellcome's action last month.
Wellcome is the largest supermarket chain in the territory, with 175 branches and a daily turnover of more than $40 million.
Backed by the Confederation of Trade Unions (CTU), the three men petitioned the Labour Department last week, claiming the punitive action taken against them was ''unfair''.
They called for driver Mr Yeung Wing-kin to be reinstated and for Mr Lau Wai-fung to be allowed to return to his job at a Kwai Chung store.
