Local labour groups to protest on Good Friday for more statutory holidays

The upcoming four days of Easter holiday might not all be spent in jubilant celebrations.

The quest for 17 days of statutory holidays for more than 850,000 local workers will take place this week, as major labor unions plan to hold a demonstration on Good Friday to voice out the demand.

Most white-collar workers in Hong Kong enjoy 17 days of public holidays but many local workers and still entitled to only 12 days of statuary holidays per annum.

Led by The Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), seven unions including workers from Swire Beverages, Hong Kong Disneyland and Hospital Authority will participate in the march.

HKCTU said they are in the  process of forming a working group with the aim of holding collective bargaining with employers to fight for fair treatment- 17 days of statutory holidays for all working class.

Research numbers from HKCTU showed that if all workers were to enjoy 17 days of statutory holidays, the operation expense for employer will increase by 0.03%, a small price to pay for corporates.

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