The hospitality industry is one of the biggest elements of Hong Kong’s financial success. Social unrest in recent months has led to Hong Kong’s hotel workers paying the price, with many placed involuntarily on paid and unpaid leave as occupancy rates plummet.
This growing trend emerged as the government warned that the extradition bill protests had damaged the city’s economy, reporting shrinking figures in tourist arrivals and room occupancy rates.
The number of inbound tourists dropped more than 30 per cent for the first ten days in August, and industry figures said the protests could be worse for Hong Kong than the 2003 SARS outbreak.
According to the Catering and Hotel Industries Employees General Union, The InterContinental Hong Kong sent an email to staff, saying the protests had hurt the economy and its occupancy levels were down considerably. As a consequence, many staff, including department heads, are to take one day of annual leave and two days of unpaid leave in August. The following month, all permanent staff have been forced to take two days of annual leave and another two of unpaid leave.
The union’s organising secretary Ho Hung-Hing could not say how many staff members had been affected but added that even though workers were not happy with the arrangement, they had to do what they were told.
Meanwhile, CK Asset has reportedly asked staff to take unpaid leave at ten hotels, including the Harbour Grand Hong Kong in North Point, and the Harbour Plaza 8 Degrees in To Kwa Wan.
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
