Labor disputes broke out in the Penny's Bay Isolation Center recently.
The Hong Kong government revoked the isolation order arrangements for confirmed cases from January 30, and the community isolation facilities will operate until the 28th of this month.
"Hong Kong 01" learned that some employees of the Penny's Bay Isolation and Quarantine Center said that the management required a large number of outsourced security guards and cleaners to work until the 12th of this month on the grounds of the Department of Health's request to reduce the manpower establishment, which caused employee dissatisfaction capital.
Some employees claimed that they were induced to sign a voluntary resignation document, and worried that they would not be able to receive severance pay and contract gratuity. They are planning actions including mobilizing to the Labor Department today (5th) to claim for help.
Some employees estimate that half of the 500 security guards and cleaners are facing layoffs.
"Hong Kong 01" has made inquiries to the Labor Department, the Department of Health and China Overseas Property Services Co., Ltd., which employs employees, and is waiting for a reply.
▼Penny's Bay Community Isolation Facility▼
There are currently three types of contract staff in Penny's Bay employed by contractors and the Security Bureau
Since the outbreak in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong government has successively opened eight community isolation facilities. Among them, the Hetao shelter hospital has never been used, and the remaining six have been closed or put on standby. Penny's Bay is the last quarantine facility still in use.
The Penny’s Bay Community Isolation Facility (Penny’s Bay Isolation Center) currently has three main types of contract staff, including security guards and cleaners. The contractor responsible for contracting services is China Overseas Property Services Co., Ltd., and housekeeping assistants directly hired by the Security Bureau.
Penny's Bay is divided into 11 areas. Since the epidemic eased, some areas have been turned into standby status, and outsourcers have also deployed to reduce manpower.
Penny's Bay is currently the only community quarantine facility still in use. Although some areas have been put on standby, at least more than 100 confirmed cases are still staying there.
(profile picture)
Fired security guards: management said Department of Health asked to reduce staffing
A security guard who was affected said that he thought he would work until the end of this month according to the government's statement, but at the beginning of this month, his boss suddenly handed in a document claiming to be a "thank you letter" and asked to sign it within the same day. The Department of Health requested a reduction in manpower, so it decided to terminate the employment contract. The last day of work will be next Sunday (12th), but the reasons for dismissal and severance arrangements have never been verbally explained.
He believed that the employer deliberately misled him to sign the voluntary resignation document, and worried that he would lose the eligibility to receive severance pay and contract gratuity: "Many colleagues are old, so this group of unscrupulous employers gave me an errand." He then called the Department of Health to inquire, but The other party said they hadn't heard of it.
The dismissal letter from China Overseas Property Services Co., Ltd. stated that the Department of Health requested a reduction in manpower.
(Picture provided by staff)
▼Seven backup community isolation facilities▼
+23
The cleaner said that there are still more than 100 people who voluntarily live in the confirmed cases
Some cleaners pointed out that although the quarantine order has been revoked, there are still more than 100 confirmed cases who voluntarily moved in in the area they are in charge of. However, the foreman has recently summoned colleagues and stated that they need to be fired early, and even coerced the colleagues to sign a consent form to express their voluntary resignation. .
The employee pointed out that there are still more than 1,000 security guards and cleaners on duty, and it is estimated that half of them will be affected.
He suspected that there was a problem with the MPF contributions. Some colleagues had asked the MPF trustees about the failure of the employer's contributions.
He also pointed out that the Department of Health has already paid Zhong Hai an employee allowance of 5,000 yuan per person in February. If he can only work until the 12th, it is unknown whether he can get the full amount.
▼Hetao District Central Aid Hong Kong Emergency Hospital and shelter facilities▼
+1
epidemic.
9.2｜An increase of 9,901 confirmed cases and 4 red-coded individuals who went out in violation of regulations were sent to Penny’s Bay for isolation. Seaview Kai Tak Community Isolation Facility opened today to receive 60 patients and 6,500 confirmed cases lived in Penny’s Bay. The number of people under quarantine at Penny’s Bay rose 1.2 times monthly A maximum of 863 people per day will enter the camp. Today, the district management vaccine pass will be tried out, and the quarantine of close contacts will be canceled from Thursday.
12.28｜Vaccination permits, cancellation of mandatory building inspections, and limited quotas at the initial stage of customs clearance in the Mainland