Calls for monthly pay for construction workers
The Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union has called on the industry to adopt a monthly salary system to better protect workers' livelihoods and attract talent. The union polled about 1,100 workers in August and September and found that half of them had been underemployed over the previous three months, and more than 20 percent had no work at all. Nearly 40 percent said their…
A construction union in Hong Kong has urged the industry to adopt a monthly pay system for workers to safeguard their livelihoods and draw in new talent. The Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union surveyed around 1,100 employees in August and September, revealing that half had been underemployed in the prior three months, while over 20% had been without work.
Nearly 40% reported their wages had been reduced within the past year, and more than 40% cited delayed pay. The union linked the wage decline to a decrease in construction projects.
The survey found that stonemasons received the only pay rise this year, a 6.67% increase bringing their daily wages to HK$1,600, while workers in 20 other trades saw their salaries frozen. The union proposed a trial monthly salary system, starting with government contracts, and advocates for implementing it in construction projects with stable work processes, continuous timelines, and mature management conditions.
Chiu Kin-keung, a vice chairman of the union, emphasized this approach to create a workforce with better protection, stronger organization, and sustainability.
The union also called on authorities to enhance safety management, not just for incident response but also in project planning and design. They stressed shared responsibility among property owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, and other stakeholders.
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