Hong Kong (RAE - China) - Lengthy delays in labour tribunals – employers ignore unions (2010)

In February, tour guides went on strike over bonuses and wages. They had originally put a case to the Labour Tribunal in 2004, but the dispute has still not been resolved. The court recently turned down an appeal by the employers, but it is believed that they will appeal again and the case could continue for a further five years. The tour guides regard the labour tribunal proceedings as a way for companies simply to delay matters, rather than a means of resolving industrial disputes. As a result of this, they have decided not to go ahead with further cases. The unions had instead asked the company to negotiate directly with them, but it had refused to do so.