Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced that the government will introduce new legislation to improve the industrial injury compensation mechanism for digital platform workers, including food delivery riders and parcel delivery drivers.
Speaking at the International Labour Day reception hosted by the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) yesterday, John Lee highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen labour rights and protections for the workforce.
“Whether delivering meals or parcels, protection will always be by their side,” he said, referring to the planned improvements in compensation for gig economy workers.
Looking ahead, the Chief Executive outlined two major initiatives. The first is new legislation to better safeguard digital platform workers under the evolving employment landscape. The second is the upgrading of the Employees Retraining Board into “Upskill Hong Kong”, which will expand its role beyond grassroots workers to provide more advanced skills training for the wider workforce, fostering a culture of lifelong learning.
Lee took the opportunity to express gratitude to all of Hong Kong’s workers ahead of International Labour Day on 1 May.
“The daily hard work and sweat of every man and woman in Hong Kong not only supports their own families but also lays a solid foundation for the city’s social and economic development,” he said.
He also reviewed several recent government achievements in labour protection, including the introduction of an annual review mechanism for the statutory minimum wage, the abolition of the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) “offsetting” arrangement, and the lowering of the working hours threshold for “continuous contracts” to benefit more part-time employees.
In the area of occupational safety and health, Mr Lee noted the use of drones for workplace inspections and enhancements to the heat stress at work warning system. He added that the government would continue to refine relevant legislation and codes of practice.
The Chief Executive also mentioned the implementation of amendments to the Trade Unions Ordinance to better safeguard national security.
Lee praised the FTU, Hong Kong’s oldest and largest labour organisation, for its steadfast support of the workforce and reiterated that the government’s work to protect labour rights would not stop.
Also addressing the event, FTU Chairman Kingsley Wong Kwok described the current year as significant, marking the beginning of the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan and a crucial period for Hong Kong as it prepares its own first five-year plan.
Wong reaffirmed the FTU’s firm support for the government’s executive-led governance model and the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”. He pledged that the FTU would continue to back the government’s lawful administration, provide constructive policy recommendations, and help align Hong Kong’s development plan with national objectives to promote high-quality economic growth and build an “employment-friendly society”.