Lack of legal protection: There is no law in Hong Kong to mandate bargaining or consultation with the trade unions on employment relations and conditions.

Refusal to bargain in good faith: The Vitasoy company has refused to bargain with the Vitasoy Employees Union with regard to wage setting mechanisms. The company does not want to participate in regular negotiations with the union.

Refusal to recognise unions for bargaining: The Union of Hong Kong Dockers (UHKD), which represents 1,500 dock workers in the Hong Kong Container Terminal, is not recognised by the owner of the terminals and the contractors for bargaining purposes. The subcontracted workers went on strike in March 2012 to push for a raise of around 20 per cent from the 55 Hong Kong dollars hourly wage they make.

Exclusion of workers: A. S. Watson & Company Limited Hong Kong is increasingly turning employees into self-employed contractors to avoid legal obligations with regard to the payment of benefits. The Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions stated that this has a serious impact on representativeness for bargaining purposes.

Disclaimer: © ITUC-CSI-IGB 2010

This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.