China Labour Net

The strike by around 450 dockworkers at Hong Kong International Terminals (HIT) to demand for higher wages, which began almost one month ago, continues into its fourth week as management still refuse to offer the workers the pay that they demand. The workers, who earn less today than they did in 1995, are asking for a pay rise of 23% an amount which does not even bring their wages back in line with what they were paid 18 years ago if inflation is also taken into account. The dockworkers wages have fallen since outsourcing was introduced. Their employers have only so far offered a wage rise of just 5% plus 2% rise in fringe benefits however.

Hong Kong International Terminals (HIT) is owned by Hutchison Port Holdings Trust (HPH Trust), the subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa established to consolidate the terminal businesses for public listing in Singapore. HPH Trust owns Hong Kong International Terminals (HIT), Asia Container Terminals (ACT), COSCO-HIT and Yantian International Container Terminals (Shenzhen, China). At Kwai Tsing Container Terminal, HIT owns Terminals 4, 6, 7 and 9, ACT and COSCO-HIT own Terminals 8. HIT and COSCO-HIT shared more than half (45.86% and 7.28%) of the THEU of the Kwai Tsing terminal in 2012. Collectively, HIT and COSCO-HIT serve around 216 weekly shipping lines services (by trade routes).

A pro-migrant worker rights activist has slammed Hong Kong’s top court decision to reject the final appeal of a foreign maid, who challenged the denial of her application for permanent residency. “This is definitely a step back because prior to this case Hong Kong was known as one of a few countries that had policies to protect migrant workers, Hong Kong used to be a role model in term of migrant workers protection,” Anis Hidayah, the executive director of Migrant Care told the Jakarta Globe on Wednesday.

The Dockworkers Strike enters its thirteen day. The HKCTU appeals for more international support.   Solidarity march on 7 April. Source : HKCTU facebook   Dear Friends…

China Labour Net Editorial Note: Dock workers have been on strike in Hong Kong since 28th March to demand better wages. The striking workers and supporters have been occupying the Kwai Tsing dock over the weekend, ending the occupation only last night after the container terminal won an injunction against them. The strike still continues into the sixth day however. Stop Exploitation NOW – Dignity to Our Workers! In support of Hongkong International Terminals Workers’ Strike

In Durban, South Africa, five heads of state meet in late March, to assure the rest of Africa that their countries’ firms are better investors in infrastructure, mining, oil and agriculture than the traditional European and US multinational corporations. The Brazil-Russia-India-China-SA (BRICS) summit will include 25 heads of state from Africa, many of whom are notorious tyrants.

Domestic workers in Hong Kong hold a rally on Sunday, March 3, calling for abolishment of the rule requiring them to live with their employers.

YANGON, Myanmar — Hundreds of angry farmers heckled and walked out on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese politician and Nobel laureate, during a visit on Thursday to villages in central Myanmar that might be displaced by a copper mine.

On February 28th, 106 of us Ohms union members signed a petition, in accordance with the relevant laws, to convene a temporary members’ congress to call for the dismissal of the chairman of the labour union. In the afternoon we handed over the 106 signatures and demands to the Ohms union and the Bantian Neighbourhood union. In accordance with the provisions of the relevant laws, the unions should decide whether to initiate a recall motion within one month.

137 workers who are victims of occupational diseases have submitted a joint letter to the National People’s Congress to request that they be entitled to receive disability certificates. The letter describes how in the last three decades, with China’s rapid economic development, there have been a large number of work related injuries and occupational diseases. However these workers are not able to get the same protections offered to the disabled, despite a large number of them having lost the ability to work. The workers are therefore asking for these rights.