Not enough being done for Hong Kong's working women, says association
And retirement protection should not just be for the poor, group says as it stages protest outside government offices
Retirement protection should not just be for the poor, a group for working women said as it poured cold water on the government's thinking on pensions and complained that the policy address contained little to improve the lot of women in the local workforce.
The South China Morning Post reported on Thursday that reforming the existing means-tested Old Age Living Allowance for elderly people was a possible alternative to a universal, non-means-tested pension.
But Michael Chan Tsz-kit, of the Hong Kong Women Workers' Association, said that would defeat the purpose of a retirement protection scheme.
"There will still be a means test, which means some elderly will still not qualify," Chan said. "It's a matter of perspective - retirement protection should not be seen as a poverty alleviation measure. It's a different thing."
The association protested on Thursday outside the barred Civic Square at government headquarters. Women who are full-time housewives, full-time and part-time employees, elderly or still in school all took part, claiming the policy address lacked "a woman's perspective", and its proposals did nothing for the working class.
"Increasing the [old-age] handout amount to HK$3,000 is good, but it's best if everyone can obtain that," said Siu Lo-lin, 62, who cleans toilets for a living. She hasn't been able to save money to retire, though she works more than 20 days a month.
"I qualify for the Old Age Allowance, but there are some who don't," she said. It would be "best if all the elderly can get it."
Proposals to raise subsidised daycare spaces to 6,000 over the next few years still won't meet demand among working mothers, association organiser Cheryl Leung said.
Labour laws also need to be amended to better protect part-time workers and standard working hours should be legislated to protect full-time workers, she added, but neither were in the policy address.
Chow Pui-fun, 47, who has a teenage son, said many mothers would like to work but would prefer flexible hours. She also said many part-time jobs are not attractive because they offer little labour protection.
"It's very disconcerting - the government telling women to rejoin the job market and children to be more independent, but labour protection does not improve," she said.
