Hong Kong Labour Unionists Call for Heatstroke Protection for Outdoor Workers
Unions urge employers to provide fan-cooled jackets and want heatstroke added to the list of statutory occupational diseases.
Quick Look
Hong Kong labour unionists call for employers to provide outdoor workers with fan-cooled jackets and want heatstroke added as a statutory occupational disease following unprecedented temperatures.
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Why It Matters
The calls for better protection for workers in extreme heat came after the city recorded unprecedented temperatures earlier this month.
Hong Kong labour unionists have called for employers to be required to provide outdoor workers with heatstroke-prevention equipment during extreme temperatures.
They also said on Saturday that heatstroke should be added to the list of statutory occupational diseases, making it easier for workers to claim compensation in work-related cases.
The calls for better protection for workers in extreme heat came after the city recorded unprecedented temperatures earlier this month.
Chau Sze-kit, chairman of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union, said many workers urgently needed fan-cooled jackets, which could cost more than HK$1,000 (US$128) each and placed an additional financial burden on them.
He called for employers to be required to provide fan-cooled jackets, as they do safety helmets.
“Workers told us that fan-cooled jackets were the most effective personal protective equipment because wearing one could help lower the body temperature,” he told a radio programme.
Open Questions
- Will employers be mandated to provide fan-cooled jackets?
- Will heatstroke be added to statutory occupational diseases?
