How overworked are Hongkongers? More than half of employees log over 45 hours a week, some longer than 70 hours: union survey
- Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions says 7.3 per cent of respondents work more than 70 hours a week, well above International Labour Organization recommendation
- Findings prompt call for standardised work week and better legal protection for employees
More than half of Hongkongers work over 45 hours a week and some longer than 70 hours, far exceeding recommendations by the International Labour Organization, a survey has revealed.
The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions on Saturday released the results of its poll, calling for better legal protections for employees and a standardised work week. The survey covered 748 full- and part-time workers aged above 18, mostly employed in tourism, hotels, catering, retail and wholesale, and transport.
“The findings are consistent with Hong Kong’s long-term problem of excessive working hours,” said labour sector lawmaker Kwok Wai-keung, who is part of the federation.
The survey showed that over 50 per cent of employees worked more than 45 hours a week, while 7.3 per cent logged more than 70 hours. The International Labour Organization recommends a 40-hour work week and considers more than 48 hours excessive.
Nearly seven in 10 respondents said they were required to work overtime. About 3.3 per cent of those polled recorded 16 to 20 hours of overtime per week and about 3.1 per cent reported more than 21 hours of additional work, according to the survey.
More than two in five workers said their employers did not provide any compensation for the extra hours.
“Long periods of overworking can affect efficiency and increase the chances of sudden death,” Kwok said.
According to the survey, which gathered responses earlier this month, 65 per cent of employees were required to reply to their bosses’ text messages or handle tasks after finishing their work day.
