A Hong Kong women’s rights group has urged the government to enact more support and protection for women, citing income inequality and the pressure they face as carers for family members.
Holding a petition outside the government headquarters in Admiralty on Thursday, the Hong Kong Women Workers’ Association called on Chief Executive John Lee to “listen to the voices of women.” Their appeal came a day before International Women’s Day, an annual date that recognises women’s achievements and raises awareness of gender equality.
“Hong Kong is holding a lot of colourful activities, a lot of mega events, and emphasises that Hong Kong is an international and developed metropolis,” said the group’s executive director Wu Mei-lin, referring to the city’s drive to boost its image.
“But… does Hong Kong have gender inequality?” Wu asked in Cantonese. “Do Hong Kong women get reasonable, fair treatment in the family, as caregivers, in employment?”
The group said while Hong Kong had more women than men, female participation in the workforce lagged behind, at 52.9 per cent compared to 64.7 per cent of men.
Women also earned less than men, the group said. In 2022, the median monthly salary for women was HK$15,300, compared to HK$21,000 for men.
Regarding employment benefits, the group urged the government to mandate 14 weeks of fully paid maternity leave, as well as extend paternity leave. At the moment, employers only need to cover four-fifths of an employee’s salary during their maternity or paternity leave.
The government should also put into place the “equal pay for work of equal value” concept, which advocates women and men who work in similar jobs receiving the same pay.
The rights group also called on the government to enhance support for caregivers, many of whom were women.
Wong Lok-yung, an organiser at the Hong Kong Women Workers’ Association, said authorities had not done enough to assist carers who juggled unpaid responsibilities alongside their jobs.
Currently, the government’s financial support schemes only target carers of senior citizens from low-income families and people with disabilities. Wong said these welfare schemes should be expanded to include more caregivers.
She also suggested that authorities should provide carers with medical vouchers, similar to the healthcare voucher scheme for the elderly which provides subsidies for senior citizens to use at private healthcare facilities.
Last year, the group planned to hold a rally to mark International Women’s Day. But the event, which received the police’s “verbal” approval, was cancelled without explanation at the last minute. Police said the group had decided to cancel the protest “after balancing the interests of all parties.”
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