Cleaners, who clean the streets and alleys every day, are a group of invisible people in a city full of tall buildings.
In the past three years of the epidemic, disposable masks, tissue balls mixed with saliva, and quick test kits that were not properly wrapped—the relationship between garbage and viruses has become closer than ever.
But for urbanites, throwing away rubbish is so simple and natural that no one remembers that the risks of spreading the virus are ultimately borne by the frontline cleaners.
In a year of repeated epidemics and changing epidemic prevention policies, Ah Sheng, a "fresh man" in the social work field, is at the forefront of labor issues. Seeing that many friends choose to leave, there will inevitably be doubts and struggles: continue to engage in social work service?
Are you still in Hong Kong?
The reason why he stayed was not only his love for this land, but also his heart to walk with the disadvantaged.
2022 will not be easy.
Many young people leave their hometowns, but many more young people stay to guard their homes. They still have all kinds of dreams, hoping to share the responsibility with this city and go further together.
Cleaning workers are the most risky industry under the epidemic, and they can catch the epidemic at any time without knowing it.
(profile picture)
From epidemic prevention equipment to labor and welfare protection
, frontline cleaners are always ignored
Ah Sheng is a social worker who works for an organization concerned with the rights of cleaners.
In the past year, he has witnessed the worries of workers in the face of the health hazards brought about by the epidemic, and he has also seen that workers have lost their due rights under the ever-changing epidemic prevention policies.
"The epidemic started to break out in February, and slowly began to decline in April. In fact, the regulations on quarantine orders, vaccine policies, and sick leave compensation have been changing." Ah Sheng mentioned that the "Legislative Council" passed the third reading on June 15 this year The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 ("Employment Ordinance") seems to have weak protection, but in fact there are still loopholes.
It stipulates that the employee's absence from work due to the restriction of the scope of activities due to compliance with the isolation order, quarantine order or closed-in testing requirements will be regarded as sick leave, and employees who meet the relevant qualifications under the Employment Ordinance can receive sickness allowance; Being absent from work due to epidemic prevention regulations and being dismissed as a result is considered unreasonable dismissal; however, there is no retrospective period for this clause, which makes it impossible for some workers to recover compensation.
For example, a worker was infected in March, but did not receive the "quarantine order" from March until the end of June. Since there is no retrospective period, even if there is an expired "quarantine order", he can only bear the absence independently Loss.
In August 2018, more than 100 cleaners working in the Kwun Tong District of Lagoon went on strike to protest the harshness of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.
(File photo/photo by Luo Junhao)
Self-censorship derived from the "National Security Law" Only by
staying in Hong Kong can we continue to participate in the change
Changes go beyond the pandemic.
In 2019, the outbreak of the anti-amendment law triggered the implementation of the "Hong Kong National Security Law" on June 30, 2020. One and a half years later, Ah Sheng admitted that the social welfare sector still has many doubts.
"The benefit of the National Security Law is to maintain stability. But when we organize labor, do some radical labor actions or strikes, will it affect the peace of the country and society?" Ah Sheng said, all kinds of doubts inevitably lead the social welfare sector to fight for There will be "self-censorship" when it comes to labor rights.
Nevertheless, on the whole, Ah Sheng is still pleased with his work in Lao Fu in the past year, because he has seen the wisdom and "sparkling points" of many workers.
What makes him most happy is that more and more merchants and residents in the community pay attention to them and agree with them.
"Vulnerable groups not only have "miserable" guides, but their wisdom can be shared and recognized in the community." The original intention of Ah Sheng's work is to become a "traveler" of workers and accompany them in facing difficulties.
He said that he has no plans to leave Hong Kong for the time being.
This may be due to his love for the land of Hong Kong: "I have an idea that no matter where I go, in fact, my heart is very concerned about the developments in Hong Kong. If I leave, it seems that my right to participate , to provide input into social policy—there will be fewer and fewer opportunities for these changes.”
We did not leave Hong Kong｜Not reconciled——fulfill the responsibility of a generation and practice the original intention｜Let’s go!
We did not leave Hong Kong in 2022｜Railway Dream——Wherever we are, we will work hard for Hong Kong｜Let’s go!
We have not left Hong Kong in 2022｜Classes suspended and online classes resumed--the burden of education is heavier｜Let’s go!
We have not left Hong Kong in 2022｜Focus on the vulnerable—let the frontline cleaners be seen｜Let's go!
2022
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