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Letters | Protect Hong Kong’s food delivery workers from racism and exploitation
- Readers discuss racial discrimination in Hong Kong, social education’s role in ending racism, and using tolls to ease traffic congestion
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I am stunned and saddened by the news that food delivery workers from Hong Kong’s ethnic minority communities encounter discrimination when interacting with their clients during work (“Half of food couriers from ethnic minority groups experience discrimination in Hong Kong, survey finds”, September 30).
Racial discrimination has long been a deep-rooted problem in Hong Kong. Workers of Pakistani and Indian descent are not the only ones who face particular hardship at work. Exploitation of domestic workers of Indonesian and Filipino descent is also common.
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The Race Discrimination Ordinance primarily protects people from being discriminated against, harassed and vilified on the grounds of their race. Victimisation is also unlawful under this ordinance. The ordinance makes it illegal to discriminate against, harass or vilify based on race, colour, descent, and national or ethnic origin whether in employment, education, provision of goods, services and facilities, disposal and management of premises, eligibility to vote for and stand for election to public bodies, or participation in clubs.
It is absurd for people to label certain food delivery workers as dirty and a source of viruses. Regardless of the language barrier, cultural differences and tough working environment, these workers weave their way through heavy traffic on motorcycles to deliver food to customers at home, come rain or shine. They work very hard to earn a small wage and make ends meet.
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Hong Kong’s ethnic minority groups struggle as city battles Covid-19 and recession
Hong Kong’s ethnic minority groups struggle as city battles Covid-19 and recession
The death of a food delivery worker while he was riding to work in July drew attention to the meagre insurance protection afforded to these workers. Last year, food delivery riders went on strike to protest against a cut in their already-low fees, highlighting problems they face on the job.
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