Govt Overwhelmed by Trade Union Applications

Trade Unions were set up following the 2019 protests

 

Following the 2019 anti-government protests, people found another way to voice their disappointment with the authorities by forming trade unions.

Under Article 27 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong residents have the freedom of association, and the right and freedom to form and trade unions.

So now the Labour Department's Registry of Trade Unions is overwhelmed in processing the number of applications it has received.

Law warns trade unions must follow the law

In 2018 there were 16 applications, and then a whopping 1,578 in the first quarter of last year. Currently there are 1,140 registered trade unions as of the end of last year.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong admitted 80 percent of the 4,289 applications or 3,450 had yet to be processed.

"We can't mobilize 100 times more manpower to handle the tsunami-like increase in applications. We can only work in the middle ground by reorganizing limited internal resources," he said. "But we will step up law enforcement to ensure every union abides by the Trade Unions Ordinance."

That's because previously conventional unions proposed economic demands, but now many new groups have called for an investigation into alleged police brutality against protesters, and to defend the city's rights and freedoms.

However, some of these unions became inactive after the national security law was passed in late June last year amid fears of government retaliation.

Health workers demanded China border be shut

The labour minister noted 247 applications were withdrawn last year.

Law warned the organizations must stick to the city's laws or face the consequences. 

"When registered unions breach the Trade Unions Ordinance, the Registry of Trade Unions will follow it up and will not rule out cancelling the affiliation," he said.

Ironically this coming from someone who used to be a member of the Democratic Party who was appointed by the government.

Guess once you go to the dark side you can't go back...