Hong Kong Employment News

[Skybean]

Greetings, from sunny NYC!

Hong Kong passes first-ever minimum wage law



A female employee walks a poster at a local fast-food chain in Hong Kong. Hong Kong passed a minimum wage law on Saturday, a rare departure from the wealthy Chinese financial hub's free-market philosophy that union leaders hailed as a victory for the territory's underpaid working class. Vincent Yu/Ap

Rate could be at least $3 (U.S.) an hour in rare departure from financial hub’s free-market philosophy

Min Lee

Hong Kong — The Associated Press Published on Saturday, Jul. 17, 2010 10:53AM EDT Last updated on Saturday, Jul. 17, 2010 10:55AM EDT

Hong Kong passed its first-ever minimum-wage law Saturday, a rare departure from the wealthy Chinese financial hub's free-market philosophy. The move was hailed by union workers as a victory for the territory's underpaid working class.

No rate has yet been set, but it appears employers will be required to pay at least $3 (U.S.) an hour — well short of the rates in the West and low for one of the most expensive cities in the world.

Thousands of foreign live-in domestic workers also will be excluded from the deal.

But legislator and union organizer Lee Cheuk-yan said it was symbolic, showing that the city was saying “goodbye to shameful wages and embraced social justice for workers.”

“This means goodbye to unfettered capitalism,” he said.

China decided to preserve Hong Kong's capitalist system when Britain returned the territory in 1997. The Beijing-appointed government continued to resist a minimum wage in the name of keeping labour markets free.

But under pressure to address the city's widening rich-poor gap after a voluntary wage protection initiative failed, leader Donald Tsang in 2008 reversed government policy and started efforts to introduce a minimum wage.

Although he praised the law backed by pro-business legislators, Mr. Lee said it is highly limited, leaving much discretion in the hands of the territory's leader, who is traditionally allied with the business community.

The Hong Kong leader is empowered to recommend a minimum wage level, which the legislature can approve or reject but can't amend. Once the level is set, the law requires the wage level to be reviewed every two years — instead of the annual review demanded by unions.

The Hong Kong administration excluded the nearly 280,000 mostly Filipino and Indonesian domestic workers on the grounds that it is difficult to calculate their work hours given the round-the-clock nature of their jobs, also noting they are promised benefits like housing, food, medical care and free travel to their home countries.

They are currently promised a monthly minimum wage of 3,580 Hong Kong dollars ($450).

Any minimum-wage law “must balance the interests of every party,” Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung told legislators Saturday.

Tsang will propose the first minimum wage level in November, Cheung said. The current consensus ranges from the HK$24 ($3) an hour backed by business interests to the HK$33 ($4) demanded by local unions — about the average price of a fast-food meal.

The federal minimum wage in the United States is $7.25; in Britain, it's 5.80 pounds ($9); in Canada, it ranges from 8 to 10.25 Canadian dollars ($7.6 to $9.7) depending on province; in New Zealand, it's 12.75 New Zealand dollars ($9).

Hong Kong is one of the world's richest territories with a 2008 per capita GDP of $30,863, but is also among the most stratified economies. It came last in income equality among 38 countries and territories the United Nations Development Programme's 2009 Human Development Report ranked as the world's most advanced.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle1643596/

[hkskyline]

Wage law seen hurting `greatest experiment'
The Standard
Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Hong Kong's "greatest experiment" with the free market is at an end with the advent of a minimum wage, London-based The Economist magazine said.

The legislature on Saturday voted overwhelmingly in favor of instituting a minimum wage and the magazine fears legislation limiting working hours will soon follow.

"The introduction of the minimum wage law along with other labor-related legislations have slowly taken away advantages the city used to have," it said.

Hong Kong was once described by famous economist Milton Friedman as "the world's greatest experiment in laissez- faire capitalism."

However, the territory has become a more regulated place ever since the handover, it said.

But the 167-year-old magazine noted policies behind the new regulations were formulated under British rule.

"Indeed, Hong Kong was never completely free of interference. The colonial government maintained its control over land. But the British government seemingly kept its hands off prices, wages and imports. The housing market, therefore, became the driving force of the economy."

In the 1970s, the property industry led the economy, taking Hong Kong from being one of the world's poorest places to one of the richest.

Privatization and monopolization worked out back then, compared to increasing intervention now, The Economist said.

A minimum wage of HK$24 per hour may eliminate 30,000 jobs, or 1 percent of the workforce, while 170,000 jobs could disappear at HK$32, it quoted Liberal Party chairwoman Miriam Lau Kin-yee as saying.

The magazine also warned of the high cost to the city of growing government intervention.

The young, migrants from the mainland as well as the handicapped and the elderly would be hurt the most.

"This legislation along with the compulsory pension scheme starting in 2000 will also increase red tape for businesses," it warned.

[hkskyline]

Don't let ego get in the way of your career
The Standard
Thursday, August 05, 2010

A friend and I were talking about the universities our mutual acquaintances are heading to when she mentioned an interesting case.

A friend of hers did pretty badly in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination. Two years later, at the Hong Kong Advanced Levels, his marks were again not up to expectations, but he was accepted into a certain university in Hong Kong.

He wasn't entirely happy with the school he got into, so he did not pay the deposit fee and had to give up his spot.

We think his reason for rejecting the opportunity is mainly that he could not bear going to a second-rate university. We have reason to think that he might just go back to his life of partying and computer games in the coming year.

To a certain extent, this parallels the situation with some job seekers. It is not as if there are no jobs in the market, but somehow many people are still unemployed, some of them depending greatly on social security.

It comes down to the fact that some people are just unwilling to settle for jobs they believe are "beneath" their abilities or worth, so they'd rather be jobless. Does it help in any way? It all comes down to "saving face," doesn't it?

Ego is a powerful factor that is the root of individualism and self-motivation. But it could also put you in a state of stagnation if you are not willing to let go of it a bit.

It is like a stuck zipper: there is no use pulling it with brute force or just letting it stay there. Sometimes one has to pull it back a bit before pushing it forward slowly, starting from the bottom, step by step, to the top.

In other words, never lose sight of your goal, but don't let your ego get in the way. Sometimes if you believe that the chance you get is much less than what you are worth, don't turn and walk away. Stay and prove them wrong.

Student Gloria Yu lives life with passion and writes about it with hope.

[hkskyline]

Hong Kong sets first minimum wage at HK$28/hr

HONG KONG, Nov 10 (Reuters) - The Hong Kong government has set the territory's first statutory minimum wage rate in a bid to ensure grassroots workers receive pay commensurate with hours worked.

The minimum wage rate was set at HK$28 ($3.60) per hour and would come into effect on May 1, 2011, the government said in a statement.

"The statutory minimum wage is new to Hong Kong," Chief Executive Donald Tsang said in a separate statement. "I hope that various sectors will join hands in making the necessary preparations for implementation of the new legislation in the interest of Hong Kong and for the better protection of low-income workers."

Workers' unions were disappointed as the rate fell short of their demand for HK$33 per hour. It also failed to please employers, who wanted HK$24 per hour.

While the financial hub of Hong Kong enjoys a reputation as one of Asia's most affluent cities, its wealth gap is among the worst in Asia, with around 100,000 of the city's 7 million people living in tiny units of less than 60 square feet. (US$1=HK$7.75)

[hkskyline]

28元最低時薪5．1實施
2011年01月06日(四)






【本報訊】本港首個法定最低工資水平訂於時薪二十八元。立法會昨日正式通過有關法例，並訂於五月一日勞動節起實施，全港約三十一萬名僱員受惠。昨日共有三項由議員提出的修訂議案，包括將生效日期提早到二月一日的建議，在勞工界功能界別議員反對下全軍覆沒。議員批評時薪訂於二十八元，難以協助基層打工仔對抗猛於虎的通脹。勞工及福利局局長張建宗承諾在明年二月搜集到今年第二季的工資水平數據之後，立即開始檢討最低工資水平。

立法會昨日首先辯論由社民連議員梁國雄提出，要求廢除有關附屬法例的議案。梁國雄堅持最低工資水平應訂於時薪三十三元，立會應先否決二十八元的建議，迫使政府訂出較高水平，認為「冇一個政府能夠抵受住咁嘅政治壓力」。

先接受 再爭取更高水平

不過，最終作出妥協接納二十八元的職工盟議員李卓人，質疑梁國雄的做法是「賭一鋪」，令基層勞工在短時間內加薪無望，覺得「賭唔過」，不如支持由他提出、將二十八元提早至二月一日生效的議案更實際。工聯會議員王國興亦說，調查顯示八成工會無奈接納二十八元，應先接受令工人受惠，將來再爭取更高水平，並要求港府和公共事業機構應帶頭做良好僱主，自行提早實施。

曾提出最低工資不應高於二十元的飲食界議員張宇人，指二十八元令很多中小型食肆難以負擔，部分可能被迫裁員甚至結業，他與業界曾考慮支持梁國雄的議案廢除二十八元，但最後為了尊重臨時最低工資委員會而作罷。他又指調高最低工資水平必須循序漸進，批評港府只給予業界半年時間準備是太短，強烈反對提早至二月實施。

張建宗回應時強調，二十八元的共識水平得來不易，拒絕接受只會造成僱主僱員全輸局面，當局會鼓勵有能力僱主自行提早實行最低工資。梁國雄、李卓人以及工聯會議員葉偉明提出另一項修訂議案，最終全數被否決。

[hkskyline]

University sets higher bar on minimum wage
The Standard
Wednesday, January 26, 2011

City University has set an hourly minimum wage of HK$31 for its outsourced workers and a trade union will urge other universities to follow suit.

"Currently our policy is to pay them about 10 percent more than the average wage published regularly by the Census and Statistics Department," a university spokeswoman said.

"With the minimum wage now set at HK$28 per hour by the government, the university has decided to revise our minimum pay to about 10 percent more, which will be HK$31 per hour," she said.

The policy will take effect on May1, the same day the statutory minimum wage comes into force.

The spokeswoman added that the new pay level will also apply should any outsourcing contracts be renewed before that day.

Suzanne Wu Sui-shan, organizing secretary of the Catering and Hotel Industries Employees' General Union, said the move will increase the salaries of outsourced workers by between 14 and 23 percent.

Wu said the average hourly wage for outsourced workers at the university is now around HK$25 and they work for 10 hours a day according to their current contracts.

"Their monthly salary is HK$6,500 to HK$7,000. With the new rate their salaries will rise to HK$8,000 or more. We urge all universities to introduce a similar wage system to protect outsourced workers," she said.

The University of Hong Kong said it already has conditions and terms in outsourcing contracts requiring contractors to show corporate social responsibility and to treat workers well.

"Contractors are prescribed not to change workers' employment conditions unilaterally. They also need to agree that we can directly contact workers and check their salary records if necessary," a HKU spokeswoman said.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong said it has reminded its restaurant contractors that once the statutory minimum wage comes into force, workers' salaries should not fall below the minimum.

"In order to protect outsourced workers' welfare, the CUHK will require contractors to follow the minimum wage level when it signs or renews contracts with restaurant contractors in the future," a CUHK spokeswoman said.

The trade union also called on universities to provide workers with more information about their rights.

[Rachmaninov]

本港失業率降至3.6%
(星島)2011年3月17日 星期四 16:47

政府統計處 今日公布，本港最新失業率降0.2個百分點，至3.6％，是2008年9月以來的最低點。15 - 24歲青少年的失業率由10.7％降至9.3％。就業不足率則由1.8％跌至1.7％。

失業率的下降主要見於保險業、餐飲服務活動業和零售業。就業不足率的下跌主要見於建造業和教育業。

勞工及福利局 局長張建宗 表示，隨著商業活動及勞工需求在農曆新年假期後回落，總就業人數減少6,600人，至3,575,500人。總勞動人口減約13,600人，至3,698,700人。

失業人數減約6,900人，至123,300人，是2008年6月以來最低的水平。就業不足人數由67,000人降至61,600人。

張建宗預期，僱主普遍對人手招聘仍抱著積極態度，失業率在未來數月可望維持在較低水平。

不過，他指出，雖然本地經濟保持暢旺，但由於外圍環境仍存變數，包括日本 大地震可能帶來的經濟影響和中東動盪的局勢等，必須保持警覺，密切注視發展。

[hkskyline]

Workers feel 6pc benefit thanks to minimum wage
The Standard
Monday, October 17, 2011

Low-income workers are earning on average 6 percent more since the introduction of the statutory minimum wage in May, even after taking inflation into account.

Citing new figures from July to September, labor secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said not only are low-income workers benefiting from the minimum wage, but more low-skilled workers have joined the workforce, particularly women.

Cheung said the local market has adapted to the HK$28 hourly wage level.

He described the final policy address by Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen last Wednesday as one "with a hint of human touch" - especially for the elderly.

Speaking on a radio program, Cheung said the plan to allow those 65 and over to travel any time on the MTR, franchised buses and ferries at a concessionary fare of HK$2 a trip helps promote healthy retirement.

Encouraging senior citizens to leave their homes more often can have other benefits. "The elderly can be active agents of society if they are in good shape. If they don't need to spend up to HK$19 to travel, they are more likely to do voluntary work and contribute to our society," Cheung said.

The government has also introduced a scheme whereby seniors living in Guangdong may collect their old age allowance without returning to the SAR.

The Labour and Welfare Bureau will shortly announce the details, and the scheme is expected to be implemented by the end of next year.

According to the current eligibility criteria, a person aged 65 or above must have lived in Hong Kong continuously for at least 309 days a year immediately before the date of application.

Meanwhile, Cheung said the government will increase the number of places in nursing homes from the current 2,300 to 3,550 over the next five years to shorten the waiting time.

The standard waiting time for nursing homes currently varies from seven to 38 months.

[hkskyline]

Students eye boost from work in mainland
The Standard
Thursday, September 15, 2011

Two-thirds of Hong Kong youths are quite comfortable about working for a short time in the mainland, according to a Hong Kong Human Resources Exchange Center survey.

Reasons for this include better promotion prospects and that the mainland experience looks good on their resumes.

The drawbacks, according to those who don't want to work across the border, are the high crime rate and the loss of time with their families.

According to the center, 67 percent of the 500 high school and university students polled said they looked forward to working on the mainland, 5 percent more than the finding of a similar survey in 2009.

However, most of the respondents are only willing to work short-term, with half of these saying one to three years would be sufficient. About a third opted for less than a year.

They are also more interested in jobs related to finance and real estate.

One in five students believed promotion opportunities and job treatment in the mainland are comparatively better than in Hong Kong.

Center director Perry Suen Pang said young people believed the mainland experience would bode well for their career development in Hong Kong.

But he also said the culture and corporate working styles are different and the Hong Kong government should not push youngsters to work in the mainland.

University graduates were not ready to face the mainland working environment. They could run into difficulties.

"Internships will help university students understand more about the working environment in the mainland because they will not have to face the financial pressure that many graduates have," he said.

He suggested that the government could initiate some long-term internship programs in the mainland for students and the Labour Department should gather information about the working environment for their reference.

The center also suggested youngsters should learn more about the culture, labor laws, tax and the wages system in the mainland before deciding to work there.

[hkskyline]

HK's manpower shortfall projected for 2018

HONG KONG, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's overall manpower supply is projected to be 14,000 people short of the overall manpower requirement in 2018 due to the aging population, the city's Labor & Welfare Bureau said Thursday.

Releasing its preliminary key findings on the manpower projection for 2018, the bureau forecast manpower supply in 2018 to be 3,582,400, while the manpower requirement will be 3,596,400. The manpower requirement is forecast to grow at an average annual rate of 1.1 percent.

It said the shortfall is due to slower growth in supply, mainly attributable to the aging population.

The manpower requirements of the four pillar industries are projected to increase, with tourism being the highest industry at 2.9 percent and financial services at 2.5 percent.

The three economic sectors expected to grow fastest are financial services, at an average annual rate of 2.5 percent and construction, information and communications, which will grow at 1.9 percent.

Hong Kong government will continue to upgrade the competitiveness and employability of low-skilled workers through training and retraining, the bureau said.

[hkskyline]

「八個鐘，要放工」
2012年03月12日(一)




【本報訊】「八個鐘，要放工！」約一百五十名物業管理及保安職工總會和清潔服務業職工會成員，昨午由灣仔遊行至政府總部，要求政府立即提交標準工時研究結果。

遊行人士除爭取每天工作八小時的標準工時及時薪三十五元的最低工資外，亦促請當局對最低工資水平每年一檢，否則打工仔血汗將被通脹吞食。

昨午遊行人士主要為清潔工及保安員，七十歲的保安員鍾先生在最低工資法例生效後，每日工作時數被減一小時，月薪維持在約五千元水平，但繳交租金已用去逾半薪金，他指最低工資水平若繼續維持每小時二十八元，未來生活將會更加艱難。

率領昨午遊行的工黨立法會議員李卓人表示，在通脹持續升溫下，打工仔已無法等待兩至三年才檢討最低工資水平。

[gladisimo]

Knew this was going to be a can of worms. Once you set a precedent, everyone is going to start wanting more and more.

We got around fine on no minimum wage for 100+ years, then sudden these people can't wait to have a 35 dollar minimum wage when 28 dollars was established barely a year ago? And this is amid increasing competition from China, too.

I hate to say this, but HKers will be their own undoing, slowly but surely.

[hkskyline]

Grim outlook on jobs looms for graduates
The Standard
Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Job prospects will be subdued over the next three months as employer confidence in new hiring is expected to be at the weakest since 2009, according to a survey by ManpowerGroup.

The recruitment firm's seasonally adjusted jobs outlook fell from plus 15 percent to plus 9 percent. It was plus 20 percent at the same time last year.

The Employer's Federation of Hong Kong said the dip is not surprising as an export-oriented economy like the SAR's will be hit harder by uncertain global market conditions than most other places.

"Firms are now cautious about new hiring, preferring to employ replacements or fill only critical positions," Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions legislator Ip Wai-ming said.

University of Hong Kong director of careers and placement Herman Chan Ping-kwong has already seen a fall in preliminary job offers from the banking and finance sector for graduates.

Of about 3,600 students graduating this year, only 300 have been given job offers.

"We have long seen a slowdown coming, so we began advising students last year not to be complacent because of the two good years we have enjoyed since 2009, and to work harder to strengthen their portfolios," said Chan.

The local survey, based on a poll of 810 employers, found hiring prospects dimmed from the previous quarter.

Only 11 percent forecast an increase in staffing levels while 3 percent predicted a fall. Of the others, 82 percent expect no employment shifts in the next quarter.

The survey, conducted in 80 countries and territories, is considered a bellwether of labor market trends and is used by economists, the European Commission and the Bank of England.

According to ManpowerGroup Hong Kong managing director Lancy Chui Yuk-shan, the weaker appetite among employers for expanding their workforce is largely due to the unpredictable financial headwinds in the global market.

"Most employers are adopting a wait-and- see approach to monitor global market trends before taking a more aggressive approach to hiring," Chui said.

She expects the slide in hiring to be arrested over the next two quarters, but warns that a euro- zone meltdown would be damaging.

Hong Kong is the only Asia-Pacific city to see a decline in sentiment.

[hkskyline]

最低工資不敵通脹
2012年03月19日(一)




【本報訊】一項有關基層工種員工的薪酬變化調查顯示，受惠於最低工資實施，去年員工的平均加薪幅度為百分之五點七，超過八成受訪者認為本港最大問題是通脹嚴重，調查團體呼籲企業今年應加薪不少於百分之八，建議新任行政長官立法設立集體談判權及每年檢討最低工資，令工人得到合理薪酬。

職工盟就薪酬變化情況，在去年十二月至今年一月訪問三百零九名會員，他們來自保安、清潔、飲食、運輸、零售、建築及個人服務行業，平均時薪五十元三角，平均工時八點九小時，三分之二受訪者去年獲得加薪，較上一年度只有三分之一人獲加薪比率增加，不過在扣除通脹等因素後，僅約四成人工資有實質增長，其餘六成人實質工資下降。

受惠於最低工資，時薪在三十元以下受訪者中，平均加薪為百分之七點八，較時薪三十元以上的加薪百分之五點四高，當中物業管理加薪百分之八，建築業平均加薪百分之六。

調查發現，超過八成受訪者認為本港的通脹嚴重是最大問題，半數人覺得貧富懸殊及缺乏退休保障問題嚴重，三成人認為工時過長問題嚴重。四成受訪者期望今年加薪幅度可多於百分之八點七，四成人要求加薪不少於百分之五。

職工盟總幹事蒙兆達指，調整薪酬是企業的決定，政府有責任透過勞工政策確保工人有合理回報，促請企業今年加薪幅度不應少於百分之八；新任行政長官立即着手立法推出集體談判權，同時要承諾每年檢討最低工資一次，令工人獲得合理加薪。

[hkskyline]

Surprise rise in jobless numbers
The Standard
Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Hong Kong's jobless rate jumped unexpectedly to 3.4 percent, an eight- month high.

The Census and Statistics Department said yesterday the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 3.4 percent in the December to February period from 3.2 percent in November to January.

But analysts insisted job-market fundamentals are improving, noting the workforce has also increased.

The government said more than 18,000 workers aged above 50 had joined the workforce.

Earlier estimates put the jobless figure at about 3.3 percent.

Unemployment mainly occurred in sectors such as decoration work, repair and maintenance for buildings, warehousing and support work for transport and retail.

Employment increased by 13,800 from 3.63 million in the November to January period to 3.64 million during December to February. But over the same period, the local labor force swelled by 21,200 from 3.74 million to a record 3.76 million. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said the workers in their 50s and older were lured by higher wages.

The implementation of the statutory minimum wage may also have been a factor.

Donna Kwok, an economist with HSBC, said fundamentals in the job market are solid as the jobless rate still hovers close to a three-year low.

Cheung said the labor market will likely be more challenging in the near term given the uncertain external environment as well as the less sanguine global economic outlook.

"The full effect of employers' customary annual review on staffing after the Lunar New Year has yet to be seen."

The financial and professional sectors also face layoff pressures after the massive cull outlined by HSBC.

Property agents said demand for prime office space has been weak and they see vacancy rates rising.

[hkskyline]

男公僕四月起享全薪侍產假

2012年03月29日(四)

【本報訊】公務員事務局昨宣布，由四月一日起，合資格的公務員及政府僱員可享五天全薪侍產假，嬰兒的出生地及申領次數不限，但僱員需於嬰兒出生前連續受僱四十個星期或以上，估計每年約三千名新爸爸可受惠，個別公營機構表示會跟隨。至於會否立法全港推行有薪侍產假，政府表示未來一、兩個月會有結果。有公務員團體表示，五天侍產假「唔夠」，希望當局日後再檢討。

非婚生可酌情批假

公務員事務局的文件顯示，全職公務員、非公務員合約僱員及政治委任人員，在每次婚生嬰兒出生時，均可享有五天全薪侍產假。公務員事務局局長可視乎個別情況，酌情向合資格僱員的非婚生嬰兒批出侍產假。

僱員可一次過或分段放侍產假，但必須於嬰兒出生前四周至出生後八周內放取，沒有放取的侍產假不可折算為現金，亦不可保留至日後另一名嬰兒出生時放取。截至去年底，全港公務員共有十五萬八千多人，當中六成半為男士。

勞工及福利局局長張建宗昨表示，預料未來一至兩個月內，研究立法推行侍產假有初步結果，當局會諮詢勞顧會及立法會意見，強調需要平衡僱員利益及僱主承擔能力。平機會表示，傾向跟隨政府推行侍產假，將開會商討調整有關政策。機管局亦表示會作出研究。

香港公務員工會聯合會總幹事梁籌庭歡迎新措施，但認為「產婦都有十個星期假，爸爸有十日最好，五日係好過冇」。他建議，政府一至兩年後檢討，增加侍產假日數，同時望私企跟隨。

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最低工資33元商家嗌救命
2012年04月03日(二)


【本報訊】本港首個法定最低工資時薪二十八元實施近一年，最低工資委員會正就最低工資水平展開檢討並諮詢公眾。統計處進行的壓力測試顯示，若最低工資調高一元，打工仔將加薪百分之三，企業薪酬開支將增加五億六千三百萬元；若調高至工會要求的時薪三十三元，企業整體薪酬開支增加逾四十七億元。勞工界爭取最低工資應不少於三十三元，但商會及僱主代表相信，部分企業因而結業或業務轉移。

最低工資水平諮詢期至五月二十八日截止。委員會之後按一籃子因素包括整體及外圍經濟情況、勞工市場、各行業薪酬階梯連鎖反應等，並參考統計處數據及壓力測試評估等，今年十一月向特首提交檢討報告。

據統計處以時薪二十九元至三十五元進行不同的壓力測試顯示，若最低工資調高至時薪三十三元，打工仔人工加幅將提高至一成二，其中物業管理、保安及清潔服務的加幅更高達一成半。若時薪提高至二十九元，企業估計薪酬開支將增加百分之零點一，約五億六千三百萬元；但若提高至三十三元，企業薪酬開支增幅為百分之一，逾四十七億元。

部分企業寧選擇結業

委員會早前收集的意見顯示，勞工界認為最低工資應確保工人獲得有尊嚴生活，建議新的最低工資水平不應低於時薪三十三元。但商會及僱主代表則指，不少企業在最低工資實施後需加價彌補成本上升，若最低工資調升至三十三元，相信部分企業最終選擇結業或將業務轉移至其他地方。

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Review of statutory minimum wage rate
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Government Press Release

The following is issued on behalf of the Minimum Wage Commission:

The Minimum Wage Commission (MWC) will submit to the Chief Executive (CE) in Council its recommendation report on the statutory minimum wage (SMW) rate by the end of October 2012 at the latest. The MWC will review the SMW rate in a comprehensive, objective and impartial manner.

After considering the work and time involved for the Commission to review and report its recommendation on the SMW rate, the CE has acted in accordance with the Minimum Wage Ordinance and required the MWC to submit the recommendation report on or before October 31, 2012.

The MWC adopts an evidence-based approach in deliberating the SMW rate. Apart from making reference to the relevant data in a basket of indicators, it needs to undertake detailed analysis and conduct impact assessment based on wage distribution data and findings of other surveys, and consider views from various sectors of society in order to recommend the appropriate SMW rate.

The MWC is tasked with reporting to the CE in Council its recommendation on the SMW rate. In performing this function, the MWC must have regard to the need to maintain an appropriate balance between the objectives of forestalling excessively low wages and minimising the loss of low-paid jobs, as well as the need to sustain Hong Kong's economic growth and competitiveness.

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Reality bites into retirement
The Standard
Friday, April 13, 2012

A comfortable retirement will require at least HK$6.15 million, a survey by a pension fund manager indicates.

The survey of 1,415 employees points to people wanting at least HK$12,000 a month for expenses when they finally quit working.

Eighty percent of respondents also told AIA Pension and Trustee, the blue chip insurer's Mandatory Provident Fund unit, that they wanted to retire before reaching the age of 65 - ideally when they are 59.

Yet 61 percent opted to delay retirement for an average of 8.5 years to add to a nest egg and also planned to cut their post-retirement monthly expenditure by HK$6,000.

AIA also found that about half of those surveyed had not adjusted their investment portfolios in the decade since the MPF came into being. Also, half had not consolidated preserved accounts.

Seventy-four percent did not understand the Employee Choice Arrangement, nor have they heard of the plan to let staff choose their fund manager.

Still, 46 percent of respondents said they will consider changing MPF managers, while 10 percent will switch immediately when a new arrangement becomes affective in November.

Bonnie Tse, senior vice president and managing director of AIA MPF, said employees should switch managers in line with their financial goals.

She suggested that employees check their MPF portfolios once every six months and said they should not worry about short-term volatility.

"While the MPF funds lost 8.4 percent last year, they rebounded 8.2 percent in the first two months."

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'More work longer for less since handover'
The Standard
Tuesday, July 03, 2012

The number of workers forced to work 60 or more hours a week has increased by 40percent since the handover.

And while gross domestic product has grown by 49percent in the same period, wages have only increased by 20percent.

The Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions said figures supplied by the Census and Statistics Department show that around 620,000 people were today working more than 60 hours a week compared with just 440,000 in 1997.

Confederation spokesman Tam Chun-yin said this may be due to the prevalence of contract staff who normally have to work longer hours for less.

As an example, he cited Dragonair's contract flight attendants who work 76 hours a week, four hours more than the non-contract staff entering the company in 1997.

The pay for attendants has also fallen from HK$18,000 to HK$16,000.

"Corporations began hiring contract staff during the Asian financial crisis in 1997. They have used this method for such a long time that they will never abandon it," Tam said.

"Hiring contract staff is more flexible as they can sack them when the economy is not good."

The confederation is urging the government to introduce a 44-hour working week.

It said another study shows workers' incomes have barely increased in the past 15 years.

Citing government statistics, Tam said Hong Kong's GDP has increased by 49percent since the handover while income has only increased by 20percent.

"The increase in income obviously can't catch up with economic development so workers are not sharing the fruits of Hong Kong's prosperity."

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong and Kowloon Trades Union Council yesterday staged a protest outside the community hall of the Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex.

Inside, Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and education chief Eddie Ng Hak-kim were meeting Sai Kung and Tseung Kwan O residents.