Saturday, 7 March 2026By 5L Crystal Yip
All jobs are honourable, yet not everyone receives the treatment and rights they deserve. In the OLE activity ‘Seeing the Invisible People’ on 5 December, students gained a deeper understanding of social issues through a presentation by a guest from the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong Pastoral Centre for Workers. The session highlighted how, in a developed city like Hong Kong, many workers still suffer from prejudice and disdain, and their interests may not be adequately protected. During the talk, we watched news clips highlighting the plight of cleaners, who are often viewed negatively.
Garbage collectors feel they must avoid crowds to maintain their image, street cleaners have no stable mealtime and may only snatch a few bites of bread during short breaks, and restroom cleaners work long hours in poor conditions, often eating lunch in cramped, unpleasant staff rooms. These workers make irreplaceable contributions to our community, ensuring a high-quality environment, yet they do not always receive the respect they deserve, and their basic rights can be exploited. That such long-neglected social issues persist in a prosperous place is both heart-wrenching and sad. This presentation provided students with a valuable opportunity to understand and discuss the rights of low-level labourers in Hong Kong, enhancing their concern for social issues and their sense of civic responsibility. It reminded us that, in addition to textbook knowledge, we should pay more attention to current affairs, apply our learning, and contribute to building a more harmonious and inclusive society.