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Solidarity for insurance agents in Hong Kong

Published: 26 January 2013
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The delegation of Federation of Non-life Insurance Workers’ Unions (FNIU) in Japan headed by the President Yutaka Seki (President of UNI Apro Finance sector) encouraged and expressed a full support to the leaders of Insurance and Finance Practitioners Solidarity Sector (IFPSS) at the UNI Hong Kong Liaison Council office on Saturday, 26 January 2013.



In 2010, a big group of insurance staff came to the Retail, Commerce and Clothing Industries General Union (RCCIGU) for help. There are over 60,000 insurance agents in Hong Kong and most of them are self-employed practitioners who are not covered by the Labor Law. The General Union helped to settle their problems and this group of insurance staff decided to form the IFPSS inside the General Union.



FNIU delegation was informed of the unfair employment practice and difficult working conditions for the insurance agents in Hong Kong, such as very complicate, confusing and trap-like agent contracts, unilateral termination of contracts by insurance companies without giving reasons, and companies’ reject to meet with the union. Since the IFPSS was formed in May 2010, it has appealed to public through demonstration and press conferences. It has also drawn insurance workers’ attention by leafleting outside the insurance companies to let them know how IFPSS is fighting for protection and what IFPSS will be able to do for workers in trouble.



The leaders of IFPSS repeated “The union is not against the company rather wants to contribute to the development of the companies, but can not accept the companies’ unilateral termination and employer-favored contracts.” They also realized that their situation in Hong Kong is strange and different from those in other countries by exchanging information through UNI Apro that gave them an opportunity to observe the last UNI Apro Finance sector Committee in Manila, May 2012. Sis. Cheung Laiha, General Secretary of the sector and RCCIGU says the insurance workers, whether employed or self-employed, still need union protection.



Bro. Seki reassured the colleagues in Hong Kong and expressed the full support to their struggle. He will meet Hon. Chan Kin Por, Legislator representing the Insurance Constituency on Tuesday and demand to redress the unfair practices and protect workers’ interests.