Social Issues

According to the latest figures released by the Confederation of Trade Unions, 30 percent of the local working population work for more than 50 hours a week, and 17.2 percent work for 60 hours a week.

In comparison, workers in the U.S. work for about 40 hours weekly.

The Confederation believes that local employers sacked some employees during the economic downturn and thus placed extra workload on the remaining staff.

Mr. Mak Tak Ching, the organizing secretary of the Confederation, added that workers worked overtime to earn extra pay owing to their low salaries.

Though there is no medical proof, an indirect relationship is believed to exist between long working hours and occupational diseases.

Mr. Choy Kwok Kiang, 56, is a construction worker who has to work 9 hours a day, and sometimes has to work overtime.

"Long working hours affect my health. I usually suffer from muscular pain and pain in the back after working," he said.

"Even when I am tired, I cannot take a rest while doing tasks that need continuity," he said.

In addition to the pain, he has a slight hearing problem. "Long working hours mean I have greater exposure to noise," he added.

Occupational health problems resulting from long working hours are not confined to laborers at construction sites.

Ms Leung Mei Ling, 36, a clerical assistant responsible for data input in a government department, also has work-related problem.

"Typing the whole day makes my fingers, shoulders and back painful," said she.

"Though my department head allows a 15-minute break every 2 hours, I am not allowed to have a nap or listen to the radio."

Ms Amy Chui is a middle-aged former office assistant in a garment exporting company.

She used to work overtime until 10 o'clock at night. She regularly had to carry heavy heaps of clothes.

Long hours of work aggravated a problem with her left hand. "I broke a bowl when I tried to use my left hand to hold it," she complained.

The Labour Department suggests that all workers should have a 20- to 40-minute break after working for 4 to 6 hours. In particular, computer operators and construction workers should rest 15 minutes an hour.

However, not all employers welcome this suggestion.

Mr. Lam Kin Lok, a contractor at a construction site, allows workers to rest if they request it.

But he disagrees with the basic proposal. "Ridiculous!" said he. "Taking a 15-minute break an hour is impossible, as some work at construction sites cannot be stopped."

Mr. Mak suggested the government to promote the idea of an 8-hour workday to lessen the problem of overtime work.