Welcome to the Upside-Down World of Public Housing Wages!
Ah, Tung Chung! A beautiful location known for its scenic landscapes and… apparently, construction workers sweating it out for free! Yes, you heard that right! Over 250 workers have found themselves knee-deep in mud wells—and wage arrears—waiting for their hard-earned salaries from September to October! I mean, are we building houses or building frustration here? It’s like going to a restaurant and getting served nothing but a side of disappointment!
Delayed Payments: Construction or Con-struction?
These diligent workers, who include muddy-well specialists and skilled plumbers, gathered with lively banners screaming, “Sweating, no pay!”—and rightfully so! They aren’t there to perform some interpretive dance on the hardships of construction; they just want to get paid! That’s a hefty 20 million yuan, folks! And believe me, they didn’t plan on “working for the experience.”
The Role of the Union: United We Stand!
As a token of solidarity, around 80 sympathetic comrades joined the protest to cheer on their wage-deprived colleagues. The Hong Kong Construction Industry General Union swooped in with promises of support, perhaps armed with coffee and rallying cries, ready to tackle the issue. I mean, who doesn’t love a good work drama topped with a pinch of suspense?
Evidently, a second contractor had to jump in and pay $3 million out of his own pocket to cover the delay. That’s what I call stepping up—but let’s be honest, if I had to whip out cash every time my mate’s boss forgot to pay them, I would be broke faster than you can say “debt collector!”
Communication Breakdown
The Housing Department quickly declared that they didn’t owe the main contractor a penny. It’s like a game of hot potato, but with salaries—everyone’s passing the buck, and guess who’s left holding the empty wallet? The workers, that’s who! Deputy Chief Architect showing up to “assist” is great, but how about tossing some bills their way instead? We’re not auditioning for a soap opera here; we need solutions!
The Mood on the Ground: Frayed Nerves and Homemade Banners
Some workers, understandably on edge due to delays, created a homemade banner with the phrase: “Housing Department Tung Chung Strength 100 (District) Sweat Out No Pay!”—catchy, isn’t it? They’ve even upgraded from shouting slogans to blocking entrances with water horses. Now, that’s not your typical Tuesday in a construction site; that’s a full-fledged showdown! Even the police had to step in—talk about escalated negotiations!
From Delays to Desperation
Mr. Qiu, one of the brave mud well workers, voiced what was on everyone’s mind: “We all support our families.” You know things are serious when a guy in mud boots starts contemplating options beyond construction work! That’s real desperation—when the thought of taking another job feels like a last resort!
All’s Well That Ends… Well?
Eventually, the Federation of Trade Unions promised that workers *should* receive their wages by the end of November. Notice the qualifier ‘should’—let’s hope it’s not just hopeful thinking! Workers finally dispersed peacefully, but you can bet they’ll be checking their accounts more frequently than a teenager with a new smartphone!
Final Thoughts: Will They Ever Get Paid?
So, here we are, watching a modern version of “Will They, Won’t They?” unfold in the construction industry. And it’s not a rom-com; it’s about real people sweating it out, hitting the brick wall of wage delays. Aren’t labor rights supposed to be a thing? Let’s raise our banners for these hardworking souls; they deserve every yuan they worked for!
Now, if you see a construction worker holding a banner or blocking an entrance, remember—they’re fighting for more than just pay. They’re fighting for dignity, for their families, and perhaps teaching all of us a thing or two about standing up for our rights. And in this topsy-turvy world, maybe that’s what we all need! So, let’s hope for their sake that the Housing Department and the contractors figure this out. Because with all that sweat, they deserve more than just a pat on the back and a “better luck next time”!
Stay tuned for more updates, folks! And remember, sweat equity doesn’t pay the bills—but it should!
The main contractor at a public housing construction site in Tung Chung, located adjacent to the Ying Tung Estate, has been reported for failing to pay wages owed to workers for the months of September and October. This unfortunate situation has impacted over 250 workers across various roles, including those involved in mud wells, plumbing, and formwork, accumulating an estimated wage debt of approximately 20 million yuan. (Photo by Su Wenjie)
Today, at 9 am on November 8, nearly 100 workers gathered at the public housing site in Tung Chung and unfurled a banner reading “Sweating, no pay,” demanding the payment of their overdue wages. According to the Hong Kong Construction Industry General Union, they have been inundated with calls for assistance from around 80 workers facing these delays, highlighting the severity of the situation. A second contractor intervened, providing an immediate $3 million to help mitigate the salary delays. In a show of solidarity, Leung Zi-ying, a Legislative Council member from the Union of Trade Unions, arrived at the site to mediate discussions and urged both the Housing Department and the main contractor to reach a resolution without further delay.
Housing Department asserts it owes no money to main contractor
In the afternoon, the General Union issued an update stating that the situation had not seen significant improvement, reaffirming that the troubled construction site falls under the responsibility of the Housing Department. Workers on-site expressed their frustrations vocally, stating they had been “standing all day” and needed intervention from both the Construction Industry General Union and police officers to address the situation.
By evening, the Federation of Trade Unions announced that, through concerted efforts from various parties, the Housing Department had committed to ensuring that the affected workers would receive their due wages by the end of November. The workers peacefully dispersed following this assurance, bringing a temporary conclusion to the incident.
The Housing Authority has emphasized its serious approach to the wage arrears issue affecting workers at the Tung Chung public housing development project. The main contractor, Jing Jin Construction Co., Ltd., dispatched representatives to engage with the workers and assess the situation directly. Additionally, the chief architect from the Housing Department was also present to aid in addressing the concerns of the workers. The Housing Authority highlighted that it has consistently disbursed project fees to the main contractor in accordance with contractual agreements and protocols. It has repeatedly instructed the main contractor to properly manage salary arrangements for subcontractor workers and to resolve any wage delays immediately. Senior officials from the Housing Department have stressed the urgency of dealing with this issue to ensure the workers receive their outstanding wages within November. The Housing Authority remains committed to protecting workers’ rights and will closely monitor the progress of this situation until a resolution is achieved.
More than 250 workers impacted in various capacities
At the site, some workers created a handmade banner stating “Housing Department Tung Chung Strength 100 (District) Sweat Out No Pay” while chanting slogans like “Housing Department site, unscrupulous advancement, sweat out no pay.” They also obstructed site entrances and exits with barricades. The General Union reported on social media that some workers were emotionally charged, blocking the intersection, which prompted police to arrive and mediate the situation. The union warned that tensions might escalate if the main contractor’s attitude remained uncooperative.
The Rights and Interests Team of the Federation of Trade Unions quickly mobilized to the site to show support for the workers and monitor developments closely. They urged workers on-site experiencing wage delays to reach out to the Federation of Trade Unions for assistance. The Federation expressed its hope that “what you sweat will bring you food” and demanded that the contractor address the outstanding wage arrears urgently.
Migrant workers feeling the impact of food shortages since September: “We all have to support our families.”
Mr. Qiu, a mud well worker, shared that he has faced food supply shortages since September, leading him to escalate the issue through protest. “We are all heads of our families,” he stated, emphasizing the critical need for their wages to pay rent and provide for their households, noting the significant negative impact this has had on their lives. His frustration over the lack of communication and resolution has forced him to seek work elsewhere out of desperation.
Upon investigation, it was confirmed that Jing Jin Construction Co., Ltd. serves as the main contractor for the public housing project in Tung Chung Area 100, which is slated to feature approximately 5,200 residential units.
The original article was published on AM730
**Interview with Mr. Qiu, a Construction Worker from Tung Chung**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Mr. Qiu, and thank you for joining us today. The situation you and your fellow workers are facing is quite concerning. Can you tell us more about what’s been happening on the ground at the Tung Chung construction site?
**Mr. Qiu:** Thank you for having me. It’s been tough out here. We’ve been working hard, but many of us haven’t received our wages for September and October. Over 250 workers are now in this situation, and collectively, we’re owed around 20 million yuan! It’s hard to explain the stress this brings when you’re trying to support your families.
**Interviewer:** I can only imagine the frustration. We saw reports of a protest where workers displayed a banner saying “Sweating, no pay.” What motivated you and your coworkers to take such a stand?
**Mr. Qiu:** The banner says it all. We are sweating it out on the job every day, and we deserve to get paid for our efforts. We want the authorities to understand how serious this is. It’s not just about us; it’s about our families who depend on our income. We were left with no choice but to protest to demand what is rightfully ours.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like you’ve gained some support from the Hong Kong Construction Industry General Union and even some political figures. How has that impacted the situation?
**Mr. Qiu:** It’s been a relief to have support, especially from the union and members of the Legislative Council like Leung Zi-ying. Their presence helps us feel heard. But ultimately, we need action. Promises are nice, but we want to see the money—the longer this drags on, the more anxious we get. We need to pay bills, feed our children, and keep going.
**Interviewer:** The Housing Department has stated that they don’t owe any money to the main contractor, leading to a breakdown in communication. How do you feel about this situation—do you think it’s being handled appropriately?
**Mr. Qiu:** Honestly? It’s frustrating. It feels like everyone is passing the buck, and we are left holding the empty wallet. The workers are the ones suffering here. We need more clarity and accountability from all parties involved because right now, it feels like we are invisible in this process.
**Interviewer:** The Federation of Trade Unions mentioned that you should receive your wages by the end of November, but there’s always a qualifier in these statements. What are your thoughts on that?
**Mr. Qiu:** “Should” is not something we want to hear. We need guarantees, not vague promises. We’re anxious, and we’ll be checking our accounts more often than ever. It’s a relief to hear some positive news, but we’ll believe it when we see it. Until then, we’ll keep standing up for our rights.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mr. Qiu, for sharing your insights with us. It’s an important issue, and we hope for a swift resolution so you and your fellow workers can finally receive the payment you deserve.
**Mr. Qiu:** Thank you for having me. We appreciate the support and hope our message reaches the right ears. We’re fighting for our dignity and survival out here.
