News

According to the Insurance and Finance Practitioners Solidarity Sector (IFPSS), insurance agents in Hong Kong work under unfair and difficult employment conditions. IFPSS is a union formed in May 2010 appealing for better working conditions.



Giving an example of problematic working conditions, IFPSS says that insurance agents are forced to sign complicated long contracts with insurance companies in order to sell their products. These contracts are written in English which can be confusing to the predominantly Cantonese-speaking society.



As a result, agents often become victims of ungrounded unilateral terminations, supposedly justified in the contracts they had signed.



In addition, most insurance agents are self-employed practitioners and are not covered by the Hong Kong Labour Law.



“The union is not against the company. We want to contribute to the development of our companies but how can we accept unilateral terminations and pro-employers contracts?” explained leaders from IFPSS.



Interactions with UNI Apro affiliates at the last UNI Apro Finance Sector Committee Meeting also rang alarms for IFPSS as they learned about the employment conditions in other countries.



The IFPSS had first approached the Retail, Commerce and Clothing Industries General Union (RCCIGU) for help as an unorganized group in 2010. The IFPSS was subsequently formed within the RCCIGU.



Cheung Lai Ha, General Secretary of RCCIGU said that insurance workers, whether employed or self-employed, still need protection from a union.



Since its formation, IFPSS has been appealing to the public through demonstrations and holding press conferences. The union has also seek to increase its awareness by handing out leaflets outside insurance companies, informing workers and management of the help it can offer to protect and fight for workers in trouble.