HKSAR to introduce legislation on statutory minimum wage
15/10/2008 17:30
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive Donald
Tsang said in Hong Kong today that the HKSAR government will proceed with the
legislative work on a statutory minimum wage.
Delivering the 2008-09 Policy
Address at the Legislative Council this morning, Tsang said the HKSAR government
is inclined to go for an across-the-board statutory minimum wage and aim to
introduce a bill into the Council in the 2008-09 legislative session.
"I am
aware that some people, including businessmen, employers and academics, have
qualms about the introduction of a statutory minimum wage. Let me stress that
the government will handle the relevant issues, including the minimum wage level
and related review mechanism, in a prudent and pragmatic manner," he
said.
Tsang said the SAR government will establish an advisory Minimum Wage
Commission MWC) after drawing reference from the successful experience of other
countries. MWC members will be drawn from the labor sector, business community,
academia and government departments. The Commission will study the level of
minimum wage as well as the review mechanism, to ensure a sensible balance
between safeguarding the interests of grassroots workers and forestalling the
loss of low-paid jobs, while sustaining our economic growth and competitiveness.
The Labor and Welfare Bureau (LWB) will proceed immediately with the preparatory
work for the establishment of the MWC.
Tsang reiterated that the introduction
of an across-the-board minimum wage should protect workers against exploitation
while at the same time prevent the loss of low-paid jobs. He said wages are
returns for employees' labor. As family needs vary, the minimum wage may not be
sufficient to cover family expenses of all employees. Employees in need can
obtain assistance under the current social security system, which can also
encourage able- bodied recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security
Assistance( CSSA) to rejoin the workforce and motivate them to move from welfare
to self-reliance.
The policy address, titled "Embracing New Challenges,"
responded to Hong Kong's new challenges, including the current global financial
crisis, food safety and environmental pollution.
The Policy Address was
Tsang's second annual policy address since he won a second term as HKSAR Chief
Executive in March 2007.
Xinhua
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