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More than 1,000 enterprises or organisations from different trades had pledged to support the Wage Protection Movement since it was introduced last October, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said today (August 30).
He believed that more employers would join in as a result of growing public awareness of the movement.
Speaking at the 68th anniversary and inauguration ceremony of the 35th Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Printers Association, Mr Cheung reiterated the Government¡¦s determination and sincerity in protecting elementary workers and noted that the launching of the Wage Protection Movement was to encourage enterprises to join the movement through voluntary and non-legislative means to help protect the wage level of cleaning workers and security guards.
¡§Some 32,600 cleaning workers and security guards are directly or indirectly employed by organisations which have pledged to support the movement. Together with the 30,000 cleaning workers and security guards who have benefited under the wage requirement applicable to service contractors of government departments, public bodies and other related organisations, it is estimated that 62,600 workers are benefiting from wage protection, which accounts for one-third of our 187,000-strong cleaning workers and security guards.¡¨
Mr Cheung said the movement not only provided employees with a stable and reasonable income and enhanced harmonious labour relations, but also helps employers recruit and retain outstanding employees. "This will in turn improve service quality and staff morale, thereby benefiting both employers and employees and bring about a harmonious community.
¡§We will continue to publicise the Wage Protection Movement by an all-embracing and all-level approach with a view to enlisting the support of more private enterprises and owners¡¦ corporations as well as other residents¡¦ organisations which employ the majority of cleaning workers and security guards in Hong Kong,¡¨ he said.
Mr Cheung commended the Printers Association and the workers¡¦ union for maintaining good communication and harmonious relations as well as upholding ¡§the partnership spirit between employer and employee¡¨.
¡§The cordial labour relations of the printing industry is indeed a role model for others. I am convinced that by working together towards the same goal, both parties will always benefit from a win-win situation,¡¨ he said.
Ends/Thursday, August 30, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:30
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