The first minimum wage level will be set in July, the labor chief said yesterday just hours after a government survey revealed the lowest-paid 10 percent of the workforce earns less than HK$27 an hour.That figure is almost certain to spark a heated debate between concern groups in the runup to a decision on a minimum wage.
According to the Census and Statistics Department survey, the median hourly pay in the workforce of 2,776,600 employees, excluding government workers and domestic helpers, is HK$58 an hour.
However, in the lowest-paid sectors – security and cleaning services – the median pay is just HK$27.60.
About 277,400 workers, or around 10 percent, in all sectors earn less than HK$27 an hour. Lower still, about 28,700 workers make less than HK$20 an hour.
The department said the figures are based on interviews with 10,598 companies in the second quarter of last year.
The hourly rate was calculated from the total wage against number of working hours, including contractual hours and paid overtime.
On average, employees, including part-timers, worked 192 hours a month.
The survey confirmed that women generally received less pay than men – HK$53.40 to HK$64.30 – but that more male employees had a Secondary Six education.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said the survey will be used as a reference for the Provisional Minimum Wage Commission, which is studying proposals for the minimum wage level expected around July.
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