Politics
Written by: Liu Jinhua
2020-01-31 22:46
Last updated: 2020-01-31 22:46Wuhan pneumonia is raging in the Mainland, and accounting professionals who often need to travel to the Mainland may face the risk of infection. The Hong Kong Accounting Association of the Accounting Association of the Accounting Association held a press conference today (31st) and released a questionnaire report on occupational safety of accounting professionals and Wuhan pneumonia.
The report shows that as of the 28th of this month, only 10% of employees interviewed did not need to travel to the Mainland for business, 14% were allowed to work from home, and 8% of employees needed to be isolated after returning from the Mainland for business. George, the representative of the Hong Kong Accounting Brotherhood Association, said that the accountant's failure to abolish employee travel arrangements puts employees at great risk, and many accounting practitioners went to work in the Mainland after being arranged for a holiday a year ago and were concerned about the situation .
Legislative Councillor Leung Chi-chung said that the turnover rate of the accounting profession is high and human resources are precious. If employees are infected, all employees of the company will be quarantined and the employer is not worth the risk. (Photo by Liu Jinhua)
The survey was conducted from the 26th to the 28th of this month, and collected the opinions and work arrangements of 1,011 accounting practitioners. Among them, 70% are employees of accounting or auditing companies, 20% are from commercial organizations, and the rest are government or Non-governmental organization employees. The results of the questionnaire show that most respondents believe that the measures employers should take regarding Wuhan pneumonia are suspension of travel to the Mainland. 93% of the respondents agree with this measure, followed by 88% of them who believe that masks and other personal protection should be provided. Supplies to employees, 85% of respondents believe that employers should allow employees to work from home.
However, George said that the questionnaire was closed on the 28th of this month. At that time, the government had not announced the arrangements for civil servants to work from home, and the Mainland had not announced the extension of the New Year holiday. Therefore, the employers in the accounting profession did not make corresponding epidemic prevention arrangements. He added that this reflected that the government's lead in epidemic prevention efforts could effectively keep business employers following.
Nearly half need to travel to the Mainland after the New Year
In addition, almost half of the interviewees in the accounting profession who need to go to the Mainland for business purposes said they need to go to the Mainland after the Chinese New Year. Among them, 88% of those who needed to work in the Mainland said that they were very worried about the epidemic, and 87% of them were worried that they would be infected with Wuhan pneumonia by colleagues returning from the Mainland. George said that accounting professionals have long business trips, with an average of one to three weeks on a business trip. They belong to the high-risk group and do not rule out the implementation of traffic control in the Mainland. He believes that suspension of business trips to the Mainland can protect Hong Kong people. Although some companies have existing new arrangements such as delaying business trips, George said that he still received cases that he needed to go to the Mainland for business trips, reflecting the employers' despise of the epidemic and the slow response, and did not explicitly explain the cancellation or delay of the arrangements.
Accounting practitioner Judy shared her work status and said that she was scheduled to work in Guangzhou in mid-February, fearing that she would be infected with Wuhan pneumonia, and the company had no actual protection. Although the company has now extended holidays and arranged flexible work, it cannot protect the staff working in the Mainland, and there is no support for illness. And if the mainland is closed, it will not be able to return to Hong Kong. She suggested replacing the person working in the Mainland with express documents and email communication.
Liang Jichang: precious human resources are not worth the risk
The union calls on employers in the accounting sector to stop all mainland workers as soon as possible until the epidemic is over, and provide employees with support to work in Hong Kong and at home. The government should also take the initiative to coordinate the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (0388), the tax bureau and other institutions, and discuss with the accounting sector stakeholders to help them with administrative arrangements.
Legislative Councillor Leung Chi-chung said that the turnover rate of the accounting profession is high and human resources are precious. If employees are infected, all employees of the company will be quarantined and the employer is not worth the risk. He also pointed out that companies with operations in the Mainland or listed on the Mainland need to submit the audited financial statements to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in March. He also asked the Securities and Futures Commission whether the deadline can be postponed to avoid accountants rushing to the Mainland Business.
Sham Shui Po District Councillor and Barrister Liu Weicong stated that in his opinion and in accordance with the Occupational Safety Regulations, rejecting an employer's request to work in the Mainland due to his own safety considerations does not constitute a ground for dismissal.
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