Few employees enjoy rest time amid excessive heat in Hong Kong, according to reports
The Hong Kong government is being urged to update its three-tier heat warning system to provide more clarity on rest times for employers and employees, according to reports.
Hong Kong's Heat Stress at Work Warning system advises employers to provide hourly rest time for employees in need while a warning is in effect.
However, it allows for a reduction of the hourly rest time if the employer has adopted "effective control measures" to reduce employees' heat stress caused by the hot weather.
Fay Siu, executive director of the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims, called out the rule for causing "confusion."
"We've identified some workplaces where workers' hourly rests have been reduced to zero while the heat stress warning is hoisted," Siu said, as quoted by the Hong Kong Free Press.
According to Siu, the policy should be updated to avoid suggesting a reduction in hourly rest times.
Hong Kong's heat warning system
Hong Kong's three-tier heat warning system was introduced last year and updated in April to reflect the Hong Kong Observatory's weather warnings.
"The main purpose of Heat Stress at Work Warning is to warn about the significant heat stress and health risks posed by the weather in Hong Kong as a whole to employees working outdoors or in indoor environments without air-conditioning systems overall, and to remind employers and employees to take necessary preventive measures to reduce the risk of heat stroke at work," the guidelines read.
It calls on employers to arrange a minimum 10-minute rest break for employees performing light to moderate levels of physical work, and a longer 15-minute break for those performing heavy to very heavy levels every two hours.
This advice should still be followed even if the adjusted hourly rest time for employees is reduced to zero minutes after the implementation of all heat preventive measures, according to the guidelines.
But Siu said that because the guidelines are not legally binding, only a few workers enjoy the 10- to 15-minute break suggested by the government.
"After all, it's not a law and it's not compulsory," she said, as quoted by the Hong Kong Free Press. "The suggested hourly rest time is simply a formality."
Excessive heat hurting employees
Employees across the world are suffering from the staggering heat in recent years, with data from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) revealing that occupational injuries from excessive heat had surpassed 22.8 million in 2020.
ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo called the situation a human rights, workers' rights, and an economic issue that needs addressing.
"We need year-round heat action plans and legislation to protect workers, and stronger global collaboration among experts to harmonise heat stress assessments and interventions at work," Houngbo said.
