The current statutory minimum wage level is reviewed every two years. The Hong Kong government announced to freeze the minimum wage level last year, maintaining it at $37.50 per hour in 2019. It will be adjusted again next year, and the new round of minimum wage level review will submit a report to the government before October. .
The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Sun Yuhan, said in an interview that the current round of the minimum wage review has entered a critical period, and the most urgent thing at the moment is that the tripartite members (labor, capital, and academics) can reach a consensus, and the minimum wage level can be determined next year, and said that this time will be handled well After the review, the review cycle can be reviewed in due course.
As for the issue of working hours, he stated that the current government will continue to aim at formulating working hour guidelines for the industry, which means that the legislation on standard working hours will not be brought back to the agenda under the current government.
Sun Yuhan also said that there are recent data showing that Hong Kong's manpower has been reduced, and a series of plans are being conceived to "grab talents", but the decision has yet to be made by Chief Executive Li Jiachao, and the details will not be announced until the October policy address is released.
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▼The minimum wage level has been maintained at 37.5 yuan per hour since 2019▼
It is hoped that this review of the minimum wage level can reach a consensus. Sun Yuhan: Everyone understands each other
The director of the Bureau of Labor and Welfare, Sun Yuhan, pointed out that the review of the minimum wage level has entered a critical time, and it is hoped that the members of all parties can reach a consensus this time, and the minimum wage level can be determined next year: "I hope everyone can use a method of mutual understanding and accommodation, which can be poured out to everyone. Agree level review."
When asked what she thinks about the minimum wage level in this round, Sun Yuhan only said that the current review of the minimum wage is carried out in accordance with regulations. The minimum wage committee will submit a report to the government after the discussion is completed, and it believes that it needs to be respected: "It is the recommendation of the committee."
Some laborers have proposed that the minimum wage will be maintained at 37.5 yuan from 2019. Before the adjustment next year, the grassroots will be equivalent to freezing wages for four years. They demanded that the minimum wage level be set at 46 yuan in this review. Reaching a consensus to freeze the minimum wage level again, Sun Yuhan said: "My biggest personal opinion is that all parties should understand each other and give in to each other, hold the spirit of seeking common ground while reserving differences, and focus on this level review, so as to reach a consensus. This is my greatest hope.”
My biggest personal opinion is that all parties should understand each other and give in to each other, embrace the spirit of seeking common ground while reserving differences, and focus on this level review, in order to reach a consensus, which is my biggest hope.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Sun Yuk-han
▼The Secretary of the Bureau of Labor and Welfare, Sun Yuhan, interviewed about MIRROR concert accident, labor policy and social welfare issues▼
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The law only states that the "minimum" review is conducted every two years, and the review method needs to be adjusted every year.
The review cycle of the minimum wage is also often criticized. Many labor sector and Legislative Council members have proposed to change the review cycle from the current two-year review to a one-year review.
Sun Yuhan believes that the current patriarchal law requires the Minimum Wage Commission to submit a report at least every two years, and there is no requirement for two years, but the past practice is to review every two years. To discuss the review cycle and methods.
He also pointed out that the current review method is more comprehensive, with data collection, consultation, and committee discussions.
The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Sun Yuhan, pointed out that the review of the minimum wage has entered a critical period, and the most urgent thing at the moment is that members of all parties can reach a consensus and determine the minimum wage level next year.
(Photo by Liao Yanxiong)
Hong Kong ranks among the world's longest working hours Government will continue to formulate 11 industry working hours guidelines
Another concern of wage earners must be working hours. Hong Kong ranks among the top in the world with the longest working hours. The Hong Kong government started to discuss the legislation on standard working hours as early as 2010, but the previous government put the legislation on standard working hours on hold and instead implemented 11 Guidelines on working hours for a designated industry, but the relevant guidelines have not yet been drafted.
Sun Yuhan pointed out that the process of formulating industry working hour guidelines has been delayed due to the epidemic, but it is still the policy goal of the current government and will be done in the direction of formulating guidelines, which means that the standard working hours legislation will be difficult to re-introduce during the current government term. on the agenda.
▼Hong Kong ranks among the top in the world's "longest working hours"▼
Sun Yuhan said that the identity of digital platform workers is especially exploring how to provide protection
Labor issues will continue to change with social changes. Sun Yuhan said that she hopes that labor welfare and security will be increased after taking office.
Sun Yuhan also noticed the rise of digital platform jobs such as couriers on food delivery platforms under the epidemic, and said that digital platform workers are different from traditional self-employed people, they are quite controlled by the platform, "that is, if he leaves this platform, He has no way of securing business.” Seeing that there are different practices in protecting digital platform workers around the world, he said he would continue to monitor the progress in other places and “explore” Hong Kong’s practices.
▼Foodpanda once broke out the takeaway strike ▼
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Li Jiachao stated that he wanted to "snatch talents" Sun Yuhan pointed out that there are details in the October policy address
For society to develop continuously, there must be people.
However, according to the latest provisional population data released by the Census and Statistics Department earlier this year, excluding the inflow population holding one-way permits, the net outflow of Hong Kong residents was 113,200, an increase of 27% over the same period last year; the latest unemployment rate, although the total labor force has rebounded, but still more than 120,000 less than the same period last year.
The Labour and Welfare Bureau has conceived a series of plans and formulated KPIs
Sun Yuhan admitted that from the data point of view, Hong Kong's labor force has passed its peak, and recent data also seems to reflect that Hong Kong's labor force has decreased. In addition, there are many opportunities in the future, and the world is thirsty for talents. The Welfare Bureau is devising a series of plans to "grab talents", some of which may involve revising the general employment policy, importing talents from the Mainland, etc. However, Li Jiachao has yet to make a decision, so he can't go into details: "Wait a minute, the Chief Executive is in charge of administration. According to the report, he will tell everyone in detail, but we have already worked hard.”
However, he also pointed out that locals are the main force behind Hong Kong's economic growth, showing that he attaches great importance to cultivating and retaining local talents, "No matter how much you try to grab it, everyone should keep in mind that Hong Kong's development ultimately depends largely on its own people. It depends on my own people." As for the KPI (Key Performance Indicator) of the Labor Welfare Bureau, Sun Yuhan said that he had made suggestions to Li Jiachao, but he could not disclose it for the time being.
Sun Yuhan pointed out that Hong Kong must do a good job of "robbing talents".
(Photo by Liao Yanxiong)
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