Hong Kong: Protest against McDonald’s
Tuesday, 17 August 2010.
On the busiest street in Hong Kong, Socialist Action set up a stall to campaign against McDonald's exploitation of their staff and call for a minimum wage of $33 for all Hong Kong workers
J.M. Roy chinaworker.info and L. Yang (photos)
McDonald's is the most famous company in the world. It is s famous for its terrible treatment of its workers as it is for its food. Not for nothing has any low paying employment become known as a ‘McJob'.
In Hong Kong the average wage for a McDonald's employee is $23 an hour. Working 40 hours a week nets a worker $3,680 dollars a month which is less than the rent on even the cheapest apartment in Hong Kong. In fact, the McDonald's on Cheung Chau is forced to supply a dormitory to the workers as the daily travel costs more than the workers earn!
For years, labour groups have protested against McDonald's exploitation of its workers, which has gone from bad to worse. In 2007 they introduced a two year pay freeze while their profits have continued to increase.
As well as being among the worst paid employees in Hong Kong, workers are forced to work long hours in harsh conditions and given only half an hour break.
On Sunday Socialist Action campaigned in force in the street, handing out leaflets and selling magazines to bring attention to how important it is that all workers have the protection of a minimum wage, regardless of age or nationality. The response was overwhelmingly positive with many people, especially the young who are always the most at risk from exploitative employers, voicing their support for our actions.
J.M. Roy chinaworker.info and L. Yang (photos)
McDonald's is the most famous company in the world. It is s famous for its terrible treatment of its workers as it is for its food. Not for nothing has any low paying employment become known as a ‘McJob'.
In Hong Kong the average wage for a McDonald's employee is $23 an hour. Working 40 hours a week nets a worker $3,680 dollars a month which is less than the rent on even the cheapest apartment in Hong Kong. In fact, the McDonald's on Cheung Chau is forced to supply a dormitory to the workers as the daily travel costs more than the workers earn!
For years, labour groups have protested against McDonald's exploitation of its workers, which has gone from bad to worse. In 2007 they introduced a two year pay freeze while their profits have continued to increase.
As well as being among the worst paid employees in Hong Kong, workers are forced to work long hours in harsh conditions and given only half an hour break.
On Sunday Socialist Action campaigned in force in the street, handing out leaflets and selling magazines to bring attention to how important it is that all workers have the protection of a minimum wage, regardless of age or nationality. The response was overwhelmingly positive with many people, especially the young who are always the most at risk from exploitative employers, voicing their support for our actions.
- We call for a minimum wage of $33. No compromise, no backing down.
- We demand a minimum wage for all workers, regardless of age, nationality or disability.
- Minimum wage of HK$33 now, or unions should call a one-day grass-roots workers' strike.
- Young workers must be unionized. Unions should fight back
- We demand an end to capitalist undemocratic functional constituencies and building up of an elected peoples' assembly against capitalist rule
- Democratic control of the banks, big business and key industries through public ownership
- Support workers struggle from below, linking the democratic movement and workers' struggle in Hong Kong and China
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