Unions make appeals ahead of Policy Address
Various workers' rights groups on Saturday submitted a series of proposals to Chief Executive John Lee ahead of his third Police Address in October.  The suggestions include calls for standard working hours, a higher minimum wage, universal retirement protection, and improved occupational safety. One of the organisations, the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims, urged the government to review a scheme that reimburses medical expenses for employees injured at work.  “Up to now, the medical expenses [reimbursement] depends on the fee of the public hospital, so that the injured worker only can take back HK$300 per day for their medical expenses for treatment. We think that this amount is not enough for their treatment and recovery,” said Lam Ching-yee, the association’s organiser. The association also called for the cost of imaging examination services, such as X-ray scans, CT scans and MRI scans, at private clinics to be covered, allowing injured workers to quickly find out their treatment options. Meanwhile, unionists representing property management and security guards urged the government to promote a standard working week of 44 hours and raise the minimum wage to no less than HK$56 per hour.  They added that security guards are overworked while receiving wages that are not livable. A carer concern group called for changes to the Social Welfare Department's caregiver allowance. It suggested eliminating the eligibility review mechanism, lower application thresholds, and allow caregivers to receive the allowance in their own name. Many groups also pointed to the need for a universal retirement protection scheme, advocating for a tripartite contribution model where the government, large businesses, and individual employees all contribute to the pension system.