Statement in Support of the Foreign Workers to Press for Justice and Decent Work

The Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, representing 170,000 workers including those with Guardforce (Hong Kong) Limited, declares its unlimited support to the foreign workers employed by the Guardforce (Macau) Limited to press for justice and decent work.

The foreign workers who are holders of work permits (visas) have been denied work and hence payment of salaries only because they have refused to sign employment contracts in which the Guardforce (Macau) Limited has scrapped some of their major benefits such as the Long Service Payment.

We have been aware and outraged by the long history of the continuous and shameful act of the Guardforce (Macau) Limited in denying its workers their rightful claims for conditions and benefits as stipulated and guaranteed by laws and employment contracts.  We find it unacceptable when the workers who have finally been driven to their limit of endurance, have gone to filed their complaints and sought redress at the Labour Affairs Bureau have so far been unsuccessful due to its delaying tactic.  Such behaviour has sent signal to the Guardforce (Macau) Limited management that its unjust treatment of workers is being tolerated by the Macau government.

Today these foreign workers have refused to remain silence and inform the Macau community of their sufferings they have endured so far as a result of the open violations of laws and employment contracts by the company.  We applaud their courage and boldness and declare our support of all possible means to bring justice and fairness to the workplace.

Macau today has become one of the places in the world where wealth is, it is also time that its labour standards and treatment of workers should come into terms with the international standards.