Hong Kong’s MTR Corp under fire for post-retirement plan that ‘makes senior staff feel like cheap labour’
- Embattled rail operator confirms one-year trial scheme for retired supervisors to be ‘re-engaged as frontline staff’
- Rail supervisors over retirement age of 60 to be hired back in lower positions with 30 per cent pay cut
Hong Kong’s embattled rail operator has drawn fire over a plan to rehire retired workers at lower salaries and positions, with some senior staff members saying the policy made them feel like “cheap labour”.
Tam Kin-chiu, vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Railway Trade Unions, said on Sunday that many MTR Corporation supervisors felt they were being exploited by the city’s rail giant.
“We think this trial scheme is unfair as it is only open to supervisor-grade staff on a selective basis. Those who are selected must be re-employed as general-grade staff, which is lower than their existing grade,” Tam said.
According to him, the plan would allow rail supervisors reaching the retirement age of 60 to be hired back in lower positions – such as train conductors or station staff – at a pay cut of more than 30 per cent. He said the one-year trial scheme was set to begin in September.
“It means that to have this post-retirement job opportunity, they must be downgraded to take a lower position and accept a pay cut from the existing monthly salary of HK$30,000 to HK$20,000 [US$2,547],” he said.
Tam added that under the plan some benefits, including medical coverage for spouses, would be removed.
The supervisors feel like they are being turned into cheap labour if they want to continue to work for the MTR Corp after the age of retirement.
“The supervisors feel like they are being turned into cheap labour if they want to continue to work for the MTR Corp after the age of retirement. All they hope for is to retain their position and pay, and work beyond the retirement age,” he said.