Hong Kong minister rejects call for law on work suspension during severe weather
Legislators say law would better protect workers, but labour chief Chris Sun stresses flexibility needed to ensure city can continue to function
Hong Kong’s labour minister has ruled out legislating the arrangements for suspending work during times of adverse weather, saying the move would hinder the functioning of society and the early return to normality.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han rejected the call on Thursday as some lawmakers urged authorities to better protect workers during inclement weather, after Super Typhoon Ragasa wreaked havoc across the city.
Sun said different industries and jobs were interconnected, and it was not feasible to determine whether a service was essential solely based on the nature of the sector or work role.
He cited the operation of hospitals and residential care homes as an example, highlighting how they could be severely affected if employees of organisations providing them with food did not go to work.
The impact of poor weather on employees commuting between their homes and workplaces also varied, he added.
“Legislating for work suspension arrangements under adverse weather or ‘extreme conditions’ would pose an adverse impact on maintaining the effective functioning of society and the early resumption of normalcy, and would undermine the flexibility in work arrangements for both employers and employees,” Sun said during a Legislative Council meeting.