*********************************************************
The Census and Statistics (Annual Earnings and Hours Survey) Order (the AEHS Order), gazetted on January 22 and tabled at the Legislative Council on January 27 has come into operation.
The Census and Statistics Department launched a new Annual Earnings and Hours Survey (AEHS) in May last year to collect wage, employment and demographic information of employees from about 10,000 business undertakings in Hong Kong. The information is required to compile statistics on the level and distribution of wages of employees in Hong Kong, including median, quartiles and percentiles spread of wage rates; as well as employment characteristics (e.g. whether full-time or part-time workers, permanent or contract staff) and demographics (e.g. sex, age, educational attainment) of employees. These statistics are essential inputs for analyses related to the implementation of the statutory minimum wage. They are also useful for studies on labour-related topics by the private sector and the Government.
The AEHS Order enables the AEHS to be conducted as a mandatory survey from 2010 onwards. This will bring the data collection for the AEHS in step with that for other economy-wide surveys conducted by the department, such as the compilation of business operating characteristics, balance of payments, business innovation and employment statistics. It is also in line with international practices in conducting surveys of a similar nature.
"Turning the AEHS into a mandatory survey also helps enhance co-operation from the business undertakings concerned to facilitate the compilation of reliable statistics relating to the wage level and distribution of employees in a more cost-effective way," a spokesman for the department said.
For enquiries on the AEHS Order, please call the department's Wages and Labour Costs Statistics Section (2) at 2887 5230 or email aehs@censtatd.gov.hk.
Ends/Friday, April 9, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:30
NNNN
