3 days ago
HK gov't to introduce proposal to boost rights of delivery couriers this year, labour minister says
The Hong Kong government will introduce a proposal this year to enhance the rights and benefits of digital platform workers, labour and welfare chief Chris Sun has said, following recent strikes by delivery workers.
The government 'will introduce a proposal for further enhancing the rights and benefits of platform workers within this year, and will consider reinforcing the protection for platform workers through legislative means,' Sun told the Legislative Council (LegCo) on Wednesday.
He also said the government had established a liaison group consisting of representatives from the government, platform companies, and labour organisations 'to explore suitable proposals.'
Sun's remarks were in response to pro-establishment lawmaker Kingsley Wong's question about whether the government would introduce a legislative proposal to protect the labour rights of delivery couriers, as promised last year.
The government said in November that it would propose ways to enhance the protection of platform workers, which 'may include proposals that can only be implemented by legislation.'
Sun said on Wednesday that the government's proposal would be based on the results of surveys and consultations conducted by the Labour Department last year, including the Thematic Household Survey, an opinion survey of platform workers, and focus groups on their working conditions.
He also told LegCo that the survey results showed that 'platform workers were most concerned about work injury compensation.'
Delivery workers do not enjoy the same labour protections as full-time employees, as Hong Kong law stipulates that delivery workers are considered self-employed contractors.
If a worker has an accident while delivering food, they can only claim accident insurance provided by the delivery platform – if any. They are not entitled to workers' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance.
However, the government is unlikely to drastically change the status of delivery workers, the labour minister told lawmakers at Wednesday's meeting.
'I think it's not suitable to give a blanket definition for platform workers as full-time employees,' Sun said, adding that a delivery courier's status as a full-time employee or self-employed contractor would depend on their working conditions.
Keeta workers' strikes
Since late April, couriers working for Keeta have been staging a series of protests across Hong Kong demanding better treatment from the delivery platform.
On May 22, around 270 Keeta riders went on strike in Central, Hung Hom, and To Kwa Wan to protest what they called an 'unfair' system that is slashing their earnings.
Owned by Chinese tech giant Meituan, Keeta launched in Hong Kong in May 2023 and has grown steadily in market share. It is one of two delivery apps in the city, after British company Deliveroo exited Hong Kong in early April.
