Typhoon No. 9 Higos strikes Hong Kong, labor regulations can keep pace with the times

01 view

Written by: Commentary Editing Room

2020-08-20 06:45

Typhoon "Hygos" encountered the new crown pneumonia epidemic, and many workers have questions in their hearts-should Typhoon No. 8 work at home? In the past, if Hong Kong encountered Typhoon Signal No. 8, most types of work were not required to go to work, and because "Work from home" was not popular in Hong Kong in the past, the inclement weather work arrangements during work at home also confuse many office workers.

According to the Labour Department’s "Code of Practice under Typhoon and Rain Warnings", if a typhoon warning No. 8 or above is issued before working hours, employers should not require other employees to go to the workplace for work except for essential personnel. The code stipulates that if employees are unable to go to work due to bad weather or uncontrolled environmental factors, employers should respond to this special situation and should not stop paying their wages. In theory, employees should not go to work under unsafe conditions, and bad weather cannot be the reason for the decrease in employee income.

Regarding the situation where "home" is the place of work, although it is not listed in the code, if the No. 8 wind horn is regarded as a holiday, it does not seem to be as intended. Because the original intention of the code is to prevent office workers from encountering danger when they go to the "work place" in inclement weather, there is no prohibition in the labor law if employees can work as usual without going to the office, or if employees stay at home without seeing immediate danger Employees continue to work from home in inclement weather.

On August 19, after the Observatory lowered the No. 8 typhoon signal, the citizens went out to work one after another, waiting for the train at Admiralty Station. (Photo by Luo Guohui)

Clarify laws and strengthen publicity

In terms of labor laws, as "working at home" may become more popular in the post-epidemic era, the definition and norms of the workplace should be studied on the one hand to clarify, so that the rights and responsibilities between workers and employers can be distinguished during work at home. For example, how employees continue to work under inclement weather, or how to arrange work outside of the "office hours" at home, etc., are subject to proper coordination by the Labour Department during the period when both parties are in residence.

Hong Kong was hit by a typhoon for the first time during the large-scale "working from home" in Hong Kong. Many office workers were puzzled about whether they should go to work. It also showed that the understanding of labor laws in Hong Kong may not be as ideal. The Labour Department should also start with promotion and try to understand the rights and interests of labor in Hong Kong through the Internet or through activities. For example, the Employment Ordinance and the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance can be made into a problem game on the rights and interests of workers, and the Labour Department can even learn. The "Big Sun Ghost" or "Clean Dragon Ad" launched a mascot to promote knowledge of labor rights to the public. Labor laws are closely related to the lives of citizens, and more efforts can be made to popularize legal knowledge.

+4

+3

+2

You can also hit the wind "WFH"

The typhoon Hagos struck Hong Kong, and immediately after the typhoon fell, office workers lined up to take the bus. For industries that can be converted to "working from home", it will undoubtedly save office workers from the inconvenience of driving their cars to work through wind and rain. The government and different companies are believed to be able to see the advantages of "working from home" in this storm. After the epidemic, the government can take over the habits of the epidemic period and seize the opportunity to promote working from home. Companies can also actively consider regularizing "work from home" when feasible, so that work is no longer confined to the office.

No fundamental improvement in the second-round employment plan

[New Coronary Pneumonia] What can the government do when cleaning workers are recruited one after another?

[Mangosteen Yubo] How chaotic arrangements for resumption of work can lead to mutual understanding and mutual concession by employees. Employment regulations need to be reviewed

01 depth

Typhoon Hagos home office (home office) Labour and Welfare Bureau Labour Department 01 View