‘Fed up, angry and about to explode’: Hong Kong May Day marchers call for improved labour rights and higher minimum wage
- Labour groups from across the political divide complained of long hours, overwork and insufficient pension allocations
- Foreign domestic helpers and groups representing disabled workers also joined the marches
Thousands of labour activists and protesters from rival political camps marched through the centre of Hong Kong in a series of May Day rallies to fight for a range of improvements to workers’ rights, such as a higher minimum wage, legal limits on working hours and a hiring quota for disabled workers.
Some accused Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s administration of favouring bosses, dismissing as “worse than useless” the latest government proposal to issue guidelines for work arrangements after storms hit.
This year’s May Day also saw the city’s statutory minimum wage rise from HK$34.5 to HK$37.5 (US$4.42) an hour, the biggest increase ever. But protesters said the level was still far too low to cover the cost of living.
Under the theme “About to Explode”, the pro-democracy Confederation of Trade Unions led the rally in the afternoon. Organisers said about 2,200 people took part, protesting against, among other things, long working hours, overwork and workplace bullying. Police estimated the turnout at 1,400.
“Workers are fed up. We are angry and we are about to explode,” said confederation chairwoman Carol Ng Man-yee, who led the march from Victoria Park to government headquarters.