The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) yesterday urged the government to set a minimum wage of HK$33 an hour through legislation by the end of the year. 

Addressing a media briefing, FTU chairman Wong Kwok-kin said Chief Executive Donald Tsang promised the labor sector he would legislate for minimum wage should a voluntary two-year wage protection movement launched in October 2006 to solicit employers' support be unsuccessful.

Almost two years have elapsed since the start of the movement and its final review is now due.

Wong pointed out that only 1,100 companies have joined the movement and 63,500 workers are covered - a mere 34 percent of the 189,500 cleaning and security workers in Hong Kong - and their average monthly wage is circa HK$4,000.

"From any angle, we cannot agree that the voluntary wage protection movement is successful and legislation is a must," he stressed.

"The LegCo Panel on Manpower has been working overtime to prepare for the minimum wage legislation," said FTU legislator Wong Kwok-hing. "Since we have done all the preparation work, the government should have no excuse for not introducing the bill in October."

The FTU suggested the government introduce a bill on minimum wage for the cleaning and security sectors into the LegCo within this year.

As the FTU hopes the legislation will ultimately benefit all sectors, they proposed a main legislation in the first stage and adding other occupations two years after the enactment of the law.

As for the minimum wage, the FTU proposed an hourly rate of HK$33, subject to annual review by the Labour Advisory Board (LAB), for the Executive Council's approval.

It also demanded clear definitions of "cleaning" and "security" workers.

In case of non-compliance, employers should be subject to a maximum fine of HK$35,000 plus a three-year jail term - the same as defaulting wage payment, the federation said.

Speaking from Switzerland, Stanley Lau, an LAB member from the employer side, said the board would adhere to the timetable to review the effectiveness of the movement in October before deciding on the next step.

He said that since Hong Kong is a free market, he disagreed to imposing legislation on the labor market. He also said the number of companies participating in the movement should not be used to assess the success of the campaign.

He added the fact that the cleaning and security workers involved had enjoyed pay rises over the past two years was what really mattered.

Fellow LAB employer-side member Paul Yin said the board has yet to come to a conclusion and the focus should be on the cleaning and security sectors only for now.

As to the minimum wage level, he said this should be subject to further study.

(HK Edition 06/10/2008 page1)