Letters | Fatal work accidents must spur Hong Kong to speed up enacting stiffer penalties
- Readers discuss the need to do more to ensure occupational safety, what to do when children display pandemic-induced regressive behaviour, and the pace of the city’s reopening
The government has long recognised the problem of lapses in occupational safety. In May this year, it proposed to raise the maximum penalty for those found guilty of occupational health and safety offences to a fine of HK$10 million and two years in jail.
Deaths from industrial accidents have remained stable at about 20 a year, according to official statistics. But too many fatalities still involve serious violations of occupational safety regulations, suggesting that current penalties – a fine of up to HK$500,000 and a maximum of 12 months in jail – were not enough of a deterrent.
Job safety is important not just for the workers but also their families who are financially dependent on them. A fine of a few hundred thousand dollars is not enough to ensure that contractors and other involved parties pay more attention to worker safety. The amendment must be passed quickly.