Workers with work related injuries denied paid leave by HKDL-Orlando Sentinel 4/10/06

[OogieBoogie]

Workers with costume-related injuries denied paid leave by Hong Kong Disneyland

Min Lee | The Associated Press
Posted April 10, 2006, 8:15 AM EDT

Full story at : http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busin...,5785833.story

HONG KONG -- Being Mickey Mouse can be a pain in the neck, actors who play the character at Hong Kong Disneyland say.

But performers who suffer pains and strains from wearing the heavy costumes of some of Disney's best-loved characters can't get paid time off to recover because Hong Kong's labor laws don't allow it, a union said Monday.

More than 30 people employed at the park have suffered muscle, neck and waist problems from working long hours and wearing Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and other costumes, said Elaine Hui of the Hong Kong Disneyland Cast Members' Union.

But Disneyland doesn't grant paid leave because Hong Kong law doesn't recognize the problems as being caused by an occupational hazard, Hui said.