Travel agencies stop pocketing tour guides' tips to avert strike
Travel agencies that pocket tour guides' tips have agreed to stop the practice immediately amid mounting complaints, although the industry watchdog is powerless to take action against offenders.
Only about four or five agencies are involved so far, but the agreement averted a weeklong strike by the Hong Kong Tour Guides General Union planned for today.
Unionist lawmaker Wong Kwok-hing on Thursday met the Travel Industry Council, which regulates the trade, to discuss the matter. Mr Wong said he was pleased with the outcome and praised the council for being forthcoming and effective.
'Tour guides are the last people who would want to go on strike because that takes away from their work and earnings,' Mr Wong said. 'But this time, the travel agencies forced their hand.'
Union member Lau Sin-mei said it would be up to individual travel agencies to decide whether affected guides would be refunded lost tips.
'This issue with tips is solely between employer and employee,' said Joseph Tung Yao-chung, executive director of the council. 'We are not in a position to interfere. We just expressed the hardship endured by tour guides and persuaded the travel agencies to stop the practice.'
