***********************************
In response to media enquiries on the proposed amendments to the Minimum Wage Bill, a spokesman for the Labour and Welfare Bureau clarified today (July 13):
"When the Labour and Welfare Bureau put forward to the Legislative Council Bills Committee in June the proposed amendments to the Minimum Wage Bill, the preliminary suggestion was to add to clause 11 a provision that the Minimum Wage Commission should make a report on the statutory minimum wage (SMW) rate at least once in every two years.
After re-examination, the Administration considered that since clause 13 is already in the Bill to regulate the making of a report by the Commission and its timing, the proposal for the Commission to make a report on the SMW rate at least once in every two years should be provided under clause 13. It is appropriate in the drafting of the provisions for this proposal to be included as part and parcel of clause 13.
The Labour and Welfare Bureau duly submitted to the Legislative Council the committee stage amendments for the Bill by the deadline of July 5 (last Monday), which was the same as that for Members to propose amendments."
Ends/Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Issued at HKT 13:10
NNNN
