News

The Federation of Non-life Insurance Workers’ Unions (FNIU) in Japan expressed full support to Insurance and Finance Practitioners Solidarity Sector (IFPSS) at a meeting in Hong Kong, January 26.



The FNIU delegation was headed by President Yutaka Seki who is also the president of UNI Apro Finance sector.



IFPSS said that insurance agents in Hong Kong face many difficulties at work including the lack of employment protection, unilateral termination of the agent contract by the insurance companies, and unfair conditions posed by the companies.



Seki reassured IFPSS and later met up with Hon. Chan Kin Por, a legislator representing the Insurance Constituency, on January 29 to demand a redress of the unfair employment practices to protect workers’ interests.



When asked how Japanese management and labor unions work together, Seki explained to Hon. Chan that Japanese trade unions learnt from past experiences that disputes would not produce any benefits to both companies and workers.



“When unions and companies working together, there can be productivity improvement which will contribute to increasing profits that companies can distribute down to workers.” said Seki.



Hon. Chan was also curious about how the companies in Japan came to trust workers vis-à-vis. Seki pointed out that the lack of the law on collective bargaining in Hong Kong was a problem. However he said that companies and trade unions can start by holding informal dialogues regularly. This will build trust and good relations that can develop into a formal consultation, and eventually into collective bargaining.



Seki also emphasized the Japanese philosophy that human resources are not “cost” but assets to produce profits. Hon. Chan personally agreed that it would be good if employees can bring positive values to the companies.



The UNI Apro Finance sector has been working together with its affiliates in Hong Kong to represent, support, and organize insurance workers and agents.