International

In 2020, social activities, economic production and labour markets were paralyzed by Covid-19. In Hong Kong, the government introduced short-term relief measures to subsidize employers’ salary payments. However, there is almost no alternative to protect workers from being laid off. The economic and labour impact by the pandemic is global. Innovative and progressive labour policies were already being experimented and developed in different countries way before Covid-19.

A growing wave of student-initiated pro-democracy protests have been sweeping Thailand since February. They have united a new generation of activists with former Red Shirts and even some disaffected people from the Yellow Shirt movement demanding: 1) the resignation of the Prayut regime and new, free and fair elections, 2) democratic constitutional changes, 3) reforms to put the monarchy under the rule of law, curb its privileges, and end the use of the draconian lese-majeste laws to silence dissent.

The Standing Committee of Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) expresses concern over the signature of President Duterte on the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 in the Philippines on 3 July 2020. The Act establishes and enables a council to designate individuals and groups as terrorists, legitimises detainment of up to 24 days without warrant or charge, authorises police and military to impose and extend surveillance, and removes the legal clauses to automatically compensate for wrongful detention.

At 18:30 (HKT) on 17 June, a webinar was launched by Olof Palme International Center and ABF Stockholm to discuss the recent political situation in Hong Kong. Lee Cheuk Yan, secretary-general of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), was a guest in the webinar.