Dozens of Hong Kong labourers stage sit-in over unpaid wages amounting to HK$4 million
- More than 20 workers try to block Housing Society construction site as they demand Aggressive Construction Company cover their back pay
Dozens of Hong Kong labourers staged a sit-in outside a subsidised housing construction site to protest against weeks of unpaid wages after their employer was terminated by the top contractor, with a union warning such incidents would only rise amid a bleak economic outlook.
More than 20 workers tried on Tuesday to block the entrance to the site, where a Housing Society project was located, on On Hei Street in Sau Mau Ping as they demanded the top contractor Aggressive Construction Company to cover their pay from June to August.
The dispute arose after the contractor cut ties with its labourer subcontractor, Profield Construction Engineering, due to “delayed and substandard outputs” and failures in meeting payroll obligations.
“Aggressive Construction Company adheres strictly to scheduled payments, ensuring timely financial commitments are met in accordance with the project timeline,” a spokeswoman for the company said.
The construction firm said it had “proactively facilitated” payment of the wages for two months to fulfil its legal obligation, and pledged to continue to manage the payrolls for the subcontractor’s employees, without providing further details.
“A new subcontractor has been engaged to guarantee a seamless transition and accelerate the project’s progress,” she added.
The Housing Society is building about 1,400 subsidised homes for sale at the former quarry location, where a crane accident in 2022 left three workers dead and six others injured.