Topic 6 Globalization and Social Exclusion— Hong Kong

Topic 6 Topic 6 Globalization and Social Globalization and Social Exclusion—Exclusion—Hong KongHong Kong

Questions:Questions:1.1.What are the new forms of social What are the new forms of social

exclusion (exclusion ( 社會排斥社會排斥 ) in Hong Kong at the ) in Hong Kong at the time of changing itself into a global time of changing itself into a global city?city?

2.2.How these global changes affect How these global changes affect employment in general and youth employment in general and youth employment in particular?employment in particular?

Theme:Theme:• The new forms of social exclusion in The new forms of social exclusion in

Hong Kong in the process of HK Hong Kong in the process of HK struggling to be a global city. struggling to be a global city.

Social Exclusion in Hong KongSocial Exclusion in Hong Kong

• Global City vs Dual Society: a dual society Global City vs Dual Society: a dual society with new forms of social exclusion is with new forms of social exclusion is forming.forming.

• Social exclusion can be seen from the Social exclusion can be seen from the following five patterns:following five patterns:

A.A. economic exclusion economic exclusion

B.B. cultural exclusioncultural exclusion

C.C. exclusion by isolationexclusion by isolation

D.D. spatial exclusionspatial exclusion

E.E. institutional exclusioninstitutional exclusionKey concept to remember!

Social Polarization and Marginal Social Polarization and Marginal WorkersWorkers

• The HK Oxfam report, entitled The HK Oxfam report, entitled “Situation of Hong Kong Marginalized “Situation of Hong Kong Marginalized Workers in Recent Years”Workers in Recent Years”( 香港「邊緣勞工」近年的發展 ), had been published in had been published in June 2000. June 2000.

• The report indicates that the number The report indicates that the number of marginal workers has been of marginal workers has been increasing drastically, from about increasing drastically, from about 380,000 in 1996 to 640,000 in 1999. 380,000 in 1996 to 640,000 in 1999.


• Marginal workers refer to the persons Marginal workers refer to the persons who are either unemployed, who are either unemployed, underemployed, low-paid below half of underemployed, low-paid below half of the median income. the median income.

• Economic restructuring and Economic restructuring and globalisation lead to a dual and globalisation lead to a dual and segregated labour market segregated labour market (( 分割勞動力市場分割勞動力市場 )) and thus the problems of marginal and thus the problems of marginal workers.workers.

Key concept to remember!


• The research also puts emphasis on The research also puts emphasis on the changes in individual, familial the changes in individual, familial and community networks of these and community networks of these marginal workers, and their marginal workers, and their situation in the face of social situation in the face of social exclusion. exclusion.

• It looks at how their social capitals It looks at how their social capitals (( 社會資本社會資本 ) become weakened in ) become weakened in terms of the changing community terms of the changing community economies, the Government’s economies, the Government’s redevelopment policies and the redevelopment policies and the market monopolization of big market monopolization of big capitals.capitals.



• The research highlights four The research highlights four important concepts: the important concepts: the vulnerability of marginal workers, vulnerability of marginal workers, the marginal trap (the marginal trap ( 邊緣困局邊緣困局 ), social ), social exclusion, and social capital and exclusion, and social capital and community economies.community economies.


Marginal Workers as “Unprotected” Marginal Workers as “Unprotected” Deprived WorkersDeprived Workers

• The research shows that marginal The research shows that marginal workers in Hong Kong are the most workers in Hong Kong are the most deprived workers, lacking any deprived workers, lacking any protection of their rights. protection of their rights.

• They are vulnerable socio-They are vulnerable socio-economically, with no bargaining economically, with no bargaining power. power.

Marginal Workers as “Unprotected” Marginal Workers as “Unprotected” Deprived WorkersDeprived Workers

• Under these circumstances, they work Under these circumstances, they work for long hours, with very low pay, for long hours, with very low pay, uncompensated over-time work, uncompensated over-time work, appalling working conditions and appalling working conditions and under strict surveillanceunder strict surveillance

Falling into a “Marginal Trap”Falling into a “Marginal Trap”

• The de-industrialisation, economic The de-industrialisation, economic polarisation, an unbalanced polarisation, an unbalanced government economic policy, stringent government economic policy, stringent control on hawkers, and control on hawkers, and redevelopment of old districts, have redevelopment of old districts, have all contributed to the predicament of all contributed to the predicament of marginal workers. marginal workers.


• Once they fall into the marginal sector, Once they fall into the marginal sector, as temporary, part-time, or contracted as temporary, part-time, or contracted workers, there are very few, if not workers, there are very few, if not none, upward mobility chancesnone, upward mobility chances.


• At most, they At most, they would be moving would be moving between the between the marginal labour marginal labour market and the market and the government government social security social security system - system - Comprehensive Comprehensive Social Assistance Social Assistance (CSAA)- to (CSAA)- to maintain a maintain a minimum level of minimum level of subsistence. subsistence.

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• The marginal labour market is in effect The marginal labour market is in effect a "trap". It is difficult, if not a "trap". It is difficult, if not impossible, for workers to escape from impossible, for workers to escape from it.it.

Typical Bird view of Lower-middle Class people

Social Exclusion as the Source of Social Exclusion as the Source of Marginal Workers’ ProblemsMarginal Workers’ Problems

• The marginalisation of workers is not The marginalisation of workers is not simply a poverty issue; it is also a simply a poverty issue; it is also a phenomenon of social exclusion. phenomenon of social exclusion.

• Marginal workers are women, new Marginal workers are women, new arrivals, and those who come from arrivals, and those who come from minority groups.minority groups.


• They become CSAA recipients and are They become CSAA recipients and are excluded from the mainstream society excluded from the mainstream society at large, in the areas of employment at large, in the areas of employment opportunities as well as human opportunities as well as human relationships. relationships.


• It is evident that it is not an individual It is evident that it is not an individual issue. The social system, which issue. The social system, which excludes marginal workers, is one of excludes marginal workers, is one of the major culprits.the major culprits.


• Treating marginal workers as a Treating marginal workers as a product of poverty risks missing the product of poverty risks missing the non-economic factors. non-economic factors.

• At worse, it wrongly gives an idea At worse, it wrongly gives an idea that compensating the marginal that compensating the marginal workers economically or booting up workers economically or booting up the economy can automatically the economy can automatically resolve their problems.resolve their problems.


• Indeed, poverty is resulted from Indeed, poverty is resulted from inequalities: not only economic inequalities: not only economic inequality, but also inequalities of inequality, but also inequalities of accessing their political and social accessing their political and social rights.rights.

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Weakening Social Capital and Weakening Social Capital and Declining Community EconomiesDeclining Community Economies

• Social capital that previously Social capital that previously formed based on their occupational formed based on their occupational affiliation and geographic proximity affiliation and geographic proximity was lost. was lost.

• With the economic transformation With the economic transformation and rescaling of urban space, these and rescaling of urban space, these livelihood networks of a particular livelihood networks of a particular neighbourhood, workers' group and neighbourhood, workers' group and small entrepreneur were gradually small entrepreneur were gradually dismantled. dismantled.

Weakening Social Capital and Declining Weakening Social Capital and Declining Community EconomiesCommunity Economies

• This has extensively undermined the This has extensively undermined the capacity of individual members to cope capacity of individual members to cope in times of crisis.in times of crisis.


• The growing trend towards big The growing trend towards big monopolies threatens the "living monopolies threatens the "living space" of the informal sector, like space" of the informal sector, like hawking or doing small businesshawking or doing small business

Pictures from a local public estates market, most the of shops were closed.


• But this "living space" has been But this "living space" has been tremendously reduced under cut-tremendously reduced under cut-throat competition from big throat competition from big supermarkets, and chain stores.supermarkets, and chain stores.

• The weakening of familial networks The weakening of familial networks and social exclusion also and social exclusion also contributes to the declining social contributes to the declining social capital stocks.capital stocks.

Social Exclusion and Youth Employment Social Exclusion and Youth Employment in HKin HK

• Research conducted by the Social Research conducted by the Social and Economic Policy Institute in and Economic Policy Institute in 2000 helps us to understand the 2000 helps us to understand the current situation of youth current situation of youth employment in HK in recent years.employment in HK in recent years.

• In recent years, one issue emerged In recent years, one issue emerged among a substantial proportion of among a substantial proportion of younger workers was the problem younger workers was the problem of working poor. of working poor.


• The problem was worse among lower The problem was worse among lower age groups. age groups.

• The ratio of male working youth aged The ratio of male working youth aged 15-19 with earnings below the median 15-19 with earnings below the median income of all employed persons income of all employed persons increased from 23.5% in 1996 to 27.6% increased from 23.5% in 1996 to 27.6% in 1999, and over 30% in 2003.in 1999, and over 30% in 2003.

• For their female counterparts, the For their female counterparts, the figure increased from 19.2% in 1996 to figure increased from 19.2% in 1996 to 33.3% in 1999, and over 35% in 2003.33.3% in 1999, and over 35% in 2003.


• The problem of unemployment rate The problem of unemployment rate among younger people was even more among younger people was even more severe. severe.

• The unemployment rate of male youth The unemployment rate of male youth aged 15-19 increased from 12.7% in aged 15-19 increased from 12.7% in 1996 to 33.5% in 2003. 1996 to 33.5% in 2003.


• For their female counterparts, the For their female counterparts, the figure increased from 12.3% in 1996 figure increased from 12.3% in 1996 to 32.1% in 2003.to 32.1% in 2003.

• The study indicates that the The study indicates that the employment problem of younger employment problem of younger people cannot be reduced to people cannot be reduced to individual characteristics. individual characteristics.


• Many younger people face Many younger people face institutional barriers, including institutional barriers, including systemic exclusion by the labour systemic exclusion by the labour market, which restrict them into a market, which restrict them into a very narrow range of jobs. very narrow range of jobs.

• These jobs are often unfulfilling and These jobs are often unfulfilling and are carried out in poor working are carried out in poor working conditions. conditions.


• Given the unsatisfactory Given the unsatisfactory employment prospect, many young employment prospect, many young people may simply react by people may simply react by dropping out of the labour market. dropping out of the labour market.

• For new immigrants or those with For new immigrants or those with physical impairment, their positions physical impairment, their positions in the labour market are further in the labour market are further marginalized by social marginalized by social discrimination. discrimination.

ConclusionConclusion

• Hong Kong is a global city. But for Hong Kong is a global city. But for whom?whom?

• The social inequalities in terms of The social inequalities in terms of class, age, gender, ethnicity are class, age, gender, ethnicity are widened.widened.

• Questions remain:Questions remain:

What is the population policy for? What is the population policy for?

Should HK be a place for the rich and Should HK be a place for the rich and for the talented? for the talented?

Population policies for…...

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Topic 6 Globalization and Social Exclusion— Hong Kong