Facebook group calls for boycott of Hong Kong fast-food chain

Tue, 02 Nov 2010

Hong Kong - Almost 3,000 people have joined a Facebook group calling for a boycott of Hong Kong's biggest fast-food chain in support of its workers.

The group, called Boycott the unscrupulous restaurant chain Cafe de Coral, was formed in response to changes in the pay structure of workers of the chain which it claims leave many with less take-home pay.

Under the new structure, workers who earn between 22 and 25 Hong Kong dollars per hour (2.83 and 3.22 US dollars) will receive a pay rise of between 2 and 3.5 Hong Kong dollars per hour. But they will no longer be paid for their 45-minute lunch break, a move which trade unions claim will equate to a pay cut.

The chain has 149 Cafe de Coral outlets in Hong Kong, plus around 150 others restaurants such as the Spaghetti House and Oliver's Super Sandwiches.

The Facebook group claims the new salary policy is unscrupulous.

Cafe de Coral has defended the new pay scale claiming it was crucial in the light of a new minimum wage law which is due to come into effect next year. It did not comment on the Facebook group.

Social Democrat party chairman Andrew To said the chain was using a legal loophole to get money from staff.

"It will encourage other companies in the sector to follow the practice and cut workers' lunch allowance," he told local newspapers earlier this week.

Legislators in the former British colony passed Hong Kong's first minimum wage law in July. A working party is expected to set the level in the coming months.

Trade unions have been pushing for a minimum wage of 4.2 US dollars an hour.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/351447,hong-kong-fast-food-chain.html.