Hong Kong employment bill not foolproof, may still allow worker exploitation: lawmakers
Transport sector lawmaker Frankie Yick says minibus operators will have no choice but to cut working hours, meaning drivers will earn less
A recent legal amendment intended to protect part-time workers may still allow employers to sidestep providing benefits to their staff and create a more challenging business environment for operators in several sectors, such as minibus owners, some legislators have said.
The concerns were raised on Thursday, a day after the Legislative Council approved the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2025 in an 84-3 vote.
The amended law, which will take effect on January 18, 2026, stipulates that an employee who works 68 hours over four weeks will be entitled to a full range of statutory benefits, including paid annual leave and sick day allowance.
It aims to plug a loophole, which has long been criticised by labour unions and manipulated by unscrupulous employers, particularly in the retail, catering and security industries.
But Lam Chun-sing of the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions, who voted for the bill, warned that it might not be foolproof, raising concerns that the calculation method, which takes into account the current week plus the three preceding weeks, could still be exploited.
“When someone tries to find a loophole in the future, should the clause specify that it’s not just calculated based on the preceding three weeks, but should also consider the following three weeks? This ensures there is no escape for long-term work,” Lam said on a radio programme.