
Issue No 84		16 February 2001

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International

Greetings from Hong Kong

address to Labor Council of NSW AGM

Chan Wai-Keung from the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions outlined the challenges facing Hong Kong workers.


	Chan Wai-Keung

Dear Brothers and Sisters, on behalf of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, 53 Unions with a membership of 150,000, I would like to extend to you all, fraternal greetings.

The Economic Development and the Situation of Workers

Although the government claimed that the HKSAR would emerge from the economic turmoil to recovery latter in 2000 with a growth index nearing to 10%, the unemployment rate remained at a relatively high level of 5% ( Hong Kong government figures ). For the employed, many have been suffering declining wages and other working conditions since 1998. Casualization is commonplace in all trades and sectors. In addition to that, academics have warned that the accession of China to World Trade Organization may trigger a new wave of unemployment in HKSAR. Low skilled workers will face losing their jobs since HKSAR's role as a middleman between China and the outside world will be phased out.

As a remedy, the government has also announced its decision to embark on mass projects as its major instrument to boost the economy. One of these is the construction of a Disneyland and Cyber-port. However these cannot bring immediate relief to the workers who are suffering in the present economic situation. These promises only created unattainable dreams of happiness and hopes that divert tension away from the current reality in Hong Kong.

Political Situation

In the latest Hong Kong Legislative Council election held on 10 September last, the HKCTU secured two seats. Wide support from the community enabled our Chairman, Mr. Lau Chin Shek and General Secretary, Mr. Lee Cheuk Yan to be re-elected to the legislature.

Civil and political rights were under pressure as the pro-Beijing camp suggested in March, to set a timetable for the drafting of an anti-subversion law. The call for the drafting of the anti-subversion law has received opposition from the civil rights community as it was viewed as a move from Beijing to tighten its political controls over HKSAR.

The right of assembly was endangered when the HKSAR government arrested seven student leaders and threatened to prosecute them for organizing an "unauthorized" demonstration. Unionists see the arrest as an indication that the government intends to tighten controls over civil rights and union activities. On 15 October the HKCTU staged a rally to call for the amendment of the Public Order Ordinance.

HKCTU Organizing Activities

In face of the present economic and political situation, we believe that only with real strength and power can we twist the current around in favour of workers interests. To do this, we must organize and organize more. One of the main method is to moblize our members and workers at large to take part in campaigns and actions to change laws and policies. Some of the major issues which have been taken up are as follows.

- Absence of Wage Protection and Regulation on Working Hours

In the absence of a minimum wage law and collective bargaining right of trade union organizations, workers wages have deteriorated for an average of 20% in the last 3 years.

The HKCTU and sixty labour activities marched to four Mcdonalds outlets, on 22 April, calling for a boycott of Mcdonalds and demanding that the company set a minimum wage for its workers as it has been found out to be paying the lowest wages among all fastfood chains.

On 18 May, a motion drafted by unionist legislator Lee Cheuk Yan ( General Secretary of HKCTU ) calling for an enactment of the minimum wage law was voted down in the Legislative Council ( LC ). It was the second time that the LC had rule out a minimum wage law motion.

HKSAR has no legislation to regulate working hours. At present, over 600,000 of the workforce are working an average of more than sixty hours a week. Most building management and security guards work twelve hours a day. Nevertheless, motion drafted by unionist legislator Lau Chin Shek ( Chairman of HKCTU ) which aimed at capping the maximum working hours at a level of 44 hours a week and 8 hours a day by legislation was vetoed by the business camp.

At the membership level, campaign for 8 hour day will be organized on industry level with the members of the Building Management and Security Workers General Union taking the lead. They will organize their first march on February 18.

- Civil Servants Fight Against Privatization and Restructuring

In early 2000, the government unfolded its plan to cut 10,000 of its staff over the next two years through a voluntary redundancy scheme. The decision has created widespread fear among the 189,000 strong civil servants, as there was speculation that the scheme might become a scheme of forced redundancy. The CTU has formed an alliance with its affiliates in the public sector to discuss issues and plan joint actions around these issues. Meetings, seminars and public rallies have been organized. Leaflets and circulars informing members in this sector on development of their latest situation have been faxed to them regularly. Meanwhile we have begun the process of organizing the casualized workers in the public sector and the response has been very positive.

- Women Workers voiced out their demands

Women remain to be the worse-hit in the present economic situation. Many are unemployed or employed as casual workers with extremely low wages. Many have turned to become part-time domestic helpers. Since mid 1999, the CTU has embarked a special organizing project to organize them into a union. At present over 300 part-time domestic workers have already been recruited and the union will be born some time this year.

On 2 October the CTU Women's affair Committee marched on to the government headquarters to demand that the government do more to eliminate poverty and violence against women. The march was organized in support of The World March of Women 2000.

Labour Rights in China

The CTU as the only independent and democratic trade union organization in China, sees the responsibility of building and promoting independent labour movement in China. To do this, The CTU founded the Labour Rights in China (LARIC) together with three other Hong Kong-based labour NGOs - the China Labour Bulletin, Christian Industrial Committee and the Asian Monitor Resource Centre. It objects to act on concerns relating to the labour practices and codes of conduct of multinational companies (MNC) in China. So far, it has been engaging in discussion with a number of MNCs and some multilateral agencies over issues such as the improvement of labour standards and trade union rights in the operations of MNCs in China.

In November last, a Conference on China Labour Movement & its relations to HK Labour Movement was held. The conference was attended by more than 100 unionists, labour activists, researchers and members from the CTU and international labour community from Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Canada, USA, Netherlands, Denmark, Great Britain, and Poland. Opinions at the conference were in agreement that while the All China Federation of Trade Unions remained a state-controlled organization. It would not be able to function as a genuine worker organization or even defend workers' basic interest. Information on activities with the Chinese unions needs to be shared and discussed in future so as to evaluate the success or failure of these activities. The meeting ended with no set answers but a commitment to organize a similar conference next year in order to track the progress of China's labour movement and discuss ways of providing solidarity with Chinese workers.

Finally, I must thank the Labour Council of New South Wales for their invitation and excellent hospitality that makes my stay in Sydney a memorable one. Thank you.

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Issue 84 contents

Interview: Life After Wartime
After ten years representing the interests of the labour movement in Parliament, Jeff Shaw is back at the bar. And loving it.

Legal: Why the Freeloaders Should Pay
Michael Costa explains why service fees are not only fair - they are economically rational.

Organising: Young Activists Bask in Union Summer
Sydney students have spent three weeks of their summer holidays experiencing on-the-ground work with unions.

Unions: Things Are Looking Up On The Dock
After six years as a call centre worker, Marios Ellas has joined the union movement. Here's his first impressions.

History: Trades Hall � The Royal Connection
Republic, who needs it when we have the Trades Hall decreed by Royal Imprimatur? So tug your forelock as work commences to restore the building.

International: Greetings from Hong Kong
Chan Wai-Keung from the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions outlined the challenges facing Hong Kong workers.

Politics: One Nation - The Old Labor Link
The resurgence in One Nation in the WA election has the pundits again reaching for the tea-leaves. But are they pouring from the wrong pot?

Review: Elect the Ambassador
Labor frontbencher Duncan Kerr unveils his vision for a new international democracy.

Satire: Man Buys Big Issue for the Articles
A Melbourne businessman claims his recent purchase of the "Big Issue" was due to his interest in the magazine's editorial content.

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