A labor rights NGO today raised concerns over the layoff of more than 70 workers by a Chinese food restaurant just days after the successful conclusion of its workers’ strike, saying the move indicates a retaliatory action on the part of the management and a violation of workers’ right to strike.

The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) called on the government to immediately investigate and act on Kowloon House West’s termination of its workers on April 23, three days after the workers declared their strike victorious upon securing a P20 wage hike and the granting of service charge.

“Kowloon’s retrenchment of many of its workers after a successful strike is a cause of concern. It’s as if workers are not allowed to achieve and celebrate a victory and should only content themselves with the state of their labor rights as dictated by their employers,” said Kamz Deligente, CTUHR executive director.

The layoffs stem from the Kowloon management’s decision to close its noodle house and dimsum counter, citing the company owner’s health condition. The decision was relayed to the workers through a meeting on April 22 and a memorandum that was circulated in a groupchat.

“Kowloon’s decision to meet its workers’ demand for a wage hike and to grant them their service charge should come from an assessment of its capacity to provide these. It should not come from a calculation that the demands will be granted in exchange for the jobs of a section of its workforce,” Deligente added.

When the strike ended, the Kowloon workers, represented by the Kowloon House chapter of GLOWHRAIN-KMU, secured a memorandum of understanding with the management which stated that the parties will not undertake any retaliatory action against each other. After the layoffs, the workers immediately filed a complaint before the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB).

“Retaliatory actions, especially layoffs, undermine workers’ right to strike, which is essential to their right to collectively bargain for an improvement in their labor rights, and their right to unionize. The government should ensure that no retaliatory actions are carried out against workers after their strike or protest actions,” Deligente stated.

CTUHR said that the layoffs is part of the Kowloon management’s refusal to recognize the workers of its noodle house and dimsum counter as covered by the bargaining unit and CBA. Workers in these segments of the company complain that they continue to receive the minimum wage despite being employed by the company for years.

“We hope that the Kowloon management will be able to strike a balance between addressing its business difficulties and advancing the labor rights of its workers. We hope that the government, through the NCMB, will be able to strike a balance between the concerns of the management and the workers,” Deligente added.

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