Labor justice. 2 | Why is this or that ordinance always failing to effectively prevent work-related accidents?

Hong Kong's popular boy group MIRROR held a concert at the Hung Hom Stadium at the end of last month, but there have been 3 accidents in the first 4 performances, including stage shaking, singer stepping on the air, etc. During the fourth performance, a large hanging screen in the center of the stage suddenly fell vertically. , directly hit two dancers, one of whom was injured in the neck and faces quadriplegia.

The SAR government quickly intervened to investigate the incident. Although there is still no definite statement, many public opinions pointed out that the organizer ignored the safety of the performers, but the current "Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance" has limited protection.

Accidents in the performing arts industry are still in the spotlight, but the problems of occupational safety and health over the years have been in the dark corners. If the supervision and punishment are not thoroughly strengthened to encourage the responsible personnel to pay attention to labor casualties and make up for safety omissions, I don’t know how many accidents will be used to buy them. lesson?

After the accidental screen fall, the MIRROR concert, which was scheduled to be held for 12 games, was immediately cut in half.

Although the incident is still under investigation, many self-proclaimed "informed people" have pointed out through anonymous interviews that the problem reflects that the organizer, PCCW's entertainment company MakerVille, disregarded the safety of the performers.

For example, a senior musician said that in recent years, the budget for concerts has been cut, and the rehearsal time will be reduced to save costs. Performers who are not familiar with stage design will be injured if they are not careful.

Aaron Kwok, one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" who has extensive stage performance experience, also pointed out that he usually set aside three to four days to "step on the stage" (on-the-spot drills) to master the stage terrain and dangerous positions, but MIRROR only had two days, which was too short. .

Every move in the performing arts industry is easy to attract public attention, which can cause public opinion pressure to force the responsible party to review the compensation. For example, Li Zekai, the second son of Hong Kong’s richest man Li Ka-shing and PCCW chairman, has publicly stated that the company will bear the medical expenses of the injured.

However, for the more than 3.7 million wage earners in Hong Kong, the safety of everyone is just a number forgotten by the public.

If the security risks in the city have never been effectively resolved, the SAR government will seldom reflect on the structural problems behind it, and will only allow wage earners to fall into "work safety loopholes" again and again...

For details, please read the 329th issue of "Hong Kong 01" e-Weekly Newsletter (August 8, 2022)

Labor justice.

1 | The entertainment industry is only the tip of the iceberg where the capital is strong and the labour is weak. Labour-capital justice is everywhere.

2 | Why is this or that ordinance always failing to effectively prevent work-related accidents?

Xiao Qianwen, director-general of the Industrial Casualty Rights Association, raised donations for truck drivers who lost their lives in car accidents, and wrote thank-you cards for those who donated, hoping to solve practical problems first.

(Photo by Huang Baoying)

Colleagues Xiao Qianwen said that they took the initiative to undertake these extra trivial tasks in order to help the victim's family in a timely manner. They hoped to solve the actual problem in a short time forcefully and practically before the aftermath of the accident went through a long process and the dust settled.

(Photo by Huang Baoying)