Yoshinoya Hong Kong steams at local advertising agency as disputes over extradition bill roil local workplaces
- Confederation of Trade Unions says workers complain of unfair treatment from pro-establishment employers
- Hong Kong affiliate of Japanese chain caught in dispute and subject to protests against alleged sacking
The extradition bill crisis has continued to divide Hong Kong society, with union members now complaining employers are sacking workers because of their opposition to the suspended legislation.
The Confederation of Trade Unions said on Friday the organisation had recently received a range of complaints from frontline workers who said they had been unfairly treated – or fired – over their political views.
Yoshinoya, the Japanese food chain, was the latest brand to be caught in the divisive extradition debate. The company’s Hong Kong branch was reported to have sacked employees over a Facebook advert that poked fun at the local police for removing notes from a “Lennon Wall”.
Some workers said it is more difficult to ask for leave because their supervisors knew what they were planning to do in their free time
But it is not just Yoshinoya; Mung Siu-tat, the chief executive of the pro-democracy confederation, said that in the past two to three weeks his group had received at least seven requests for help from workers.
“Some workers said it is more difficult to ask for leave because their supervisors knew what they were planning to do in their free time,” Mung said.
In some cases it was no secret the workers intended to spend their leave at extradition protests, he said.
“Some said their situations at work were more difficult because their political positions were very different from their superiors.”
In one case, Mung said a worker claimed to have been fired by a boss who was openly pro-establishment.