KMB Workers' Union Raises Concerns Over Excessive Cabin Temperatures; KMB Agrees to Lower Settings
AM730 · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) workers' unions have escalated concerns about dangerously high cabin temperatures affecting front-line bus captains during Hong Kong's record-breaking heat wave. Following sustained negotiations with management, KMB has committed to lowering cabin temperatures from 26 degrees Celsius to 24 degrees and increasing air flow across its entire fleet. The Labour Department has been formally requested to investigate whether the conditions constitute an occupational safety hazard.
Key Points
- Hong Kong experienced record-breaking temperatures on Sunday, with the Observatory confirming extreme heat conditions persisting for multiple consecutive days
- The Automobile and Transportation Workers General Union KMB and Long Win Branch reported that KMB had locked cabin temperatures at 26 degrees Celsius, with ventilation systems described as "weak and powerless"
- Passengers unable to tolerate the stifling conditions reportedly directed their frustration at bus captains, creating additional workplace pressure
- After days of negotiations, KMB and Long Win Bus management agreed to lower cabin temperatures to 24 degrees Celsius and increase air flow starting the same day
- The KMB Staff Rights Union formally met with the Labour Department's Industrial Relations Division (West Kowloon) to request intervention
- KMB responded that it has begun gradually lowering temperature settings across its entire fleet, though completing the process will require time
Why It Matters
The unresolved cabin temperature issue highlights broader concerns about occupational health and safety standards for Hong Kong's public transport workforce during extreme weather events. With climate change making record temperatures increasingly common, the outcome of Labour Department involvement could establish important precedents for protecting transport workers' safety and well-being in challenging weather conditions.
The unresolved cabin temperature issue highlights broader concerns about occupational health and safety standards for Hong Kong's public transport workforce during extreme weather events. With climate change making record temperatures increasingly common, the outcome of Labour Department involvement could establish important precedents for protecting transport workers' safety and well-being in challenging weather conditions.