HONG KONG (SE): Partnering with local parishes, the Hong Kong Catholic Commission for Labour Affairs initiated the “Sowers of Hope” campaign in response to the Jubilee Year, aiming to establish rest stations for outdoor workers in churches on weekdays. This initiative won an outstanding award from the Jockey Club MEL Institute Project at the end of April. Furthermore, in early June, the campaign expanded its services to Cheung Chau and has received support from the local community.
Starting in October 2024, staff members from the commission participated in the Jockey Club MEL Institute Project’s training programme to enhance their skills in monitoring, evaluation and learning [MEL] the necessary knowledge on service development.
This innovative concept of utilising idle spaces in churches on weekdays as rest areas has received recognition from both local and international evaluators in the Jockey Club project, earning the commission an outstanding award out of over thirty social welfare agencies.
“The purpose of joining the contest is not to win, but to raise public awareness on the situation of outdoor workers, and invite support for the Labour Commission’s pastoral services and the potential collaboration among over 50 parishes in Hong Kong,” said Oscar Lai, formation officer of the commission, who had joined the Jockey Club project along with Samuel Wong, policy research officer, and Freeman Leung, centre supervisor from the Diocesan Pastoral Centres for Workers-New Territories.
According to Lai, the award has raised awareness about the situations of outdoor cleaning workers and encouraged collaboration among social service organisations as there have been inquiries about joining their services. Over 10 young people from the Red Cross will visit the cleaning workers with them in July. People from other non government organisations in the Jockey Club project also attended a recent film screening events in North Point.
The purpose of joining the contest is not to win, but to raise public awareness on the situation of outdoor workers, and invite support for the Labour Commission’s pastoral services and the potential collaboration among over 50 parishes in Hong Kong
Oscar Lai
Since March, the commission has cooperated with St. Joseph’s Church in Fanling to provide rest spaces for outdoor workers and cleaners two to three times a month, offering resources like water, towels, and sun protection in hot weather. At the same time, the commission also provides information about labour laws and health. Eye examination services have been offered by an optometrist.
This first rest stations saw use by between 20 to 30 people every time the church was opened due to its proximity to a garbage collection station, which allows convenient access for cleaners during breaks or lunch.
Recently, the commission launched another pilot rest station programme in Cheung Chau on June 4, in cooperation with Our Lady of Fatima Church. This initiative runs every Wednesday from June to August, offering a fixed station near the church in the mornings and outreach services in the afternoons to support workers in remote areas.
On the first Wednesday of June, volunteers distributed around 60 stainless steel water bottles and towels featuring biblical verses for spiritual support.
Other services provided in include stretching sessions as well as talks on first aid techniques and heatstroke prevention led by volunteers from the Red Cross.
According to Lai, the programme’s goal is to assist the approximately 200 outdoor workers on the island, including the pest control workers, street cleaners and garbage collectors.
Furthermore, the commission will soon be running another rest station at St. Andrew’s Church, Tseung Kwan O, which will operate on Fridays from mid-July to September. Around 15 volunteers have regularly joined its formation workshops and visits were paid to gather data about the situations of the cleaning workers nearby.
The commission has learned that there are around 150 outdoor cleaners around the parish. This includes approximately 100 outdoor cleaning workers on morning and night shifts, more than 20 garbage disposers serving residential buildings as well as some gardeners.
“Engaging with cleaners is important as it has helped them gather precise data about their actual needs, rather than giving supplies basing on assumptions,” he said.
The commission is planning to draft a manual or report about the rest stations by the end of this year to promote collaborative efforts and encourage greater participation from parish and community members.
