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The following is the statement by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, in response to the public meetings to observe the Labour Day today (May 1):
ˇ§The Government has always attached great importance to labour rights and strived to create harmonious labour relations. In the face of the global financial tsunami and the challenging economic situation, the Government will continue to spare no effort in protecting the rights of our workers.
We aim to introduce the Minimum Wage Bill and the Employment (Amendment) Bill to the Legislative Council (LegCo) within the current legislative session as scheduled. The two Bills seek to forestall excessively low wages and to make non-payment of Labour Tribunal awards a criminal offence respectively. This represents an important milestone and a major step forward in the protection of labour rights in Hong Kong.
On whether the proposed minimum wage bill should cover live-in domestic helpers, we are studying the issue thoroughly and will take into account the views of the Labour Advisory Board, LegCo, unions and relevant employer and employee organisations as well as legal advice. We will ensure that the proposed bill is not only legally tenable but also practicable in terms of operation and enforcement.
Given the ever-changing social environment and needs, we will review our labour policies from time to time to keep abreast of the pace of Hong Kongˇ¦s socio-economic development and to take account of the needs of both employers and employees.
To reduce the impact of the financial turmoil, the Government is now implementing progressively the series of measures announced earlier to stablise the financial system, support enterprises, preserve employment and create jobs.
The Finance Committee of LegCo approved last Friday (April 24) a total of $12.57 billion for 19 public works projects and the Development Bureauˇ¦s Operation Building Bright. Some 15 450 jobs will be created and should go a long way towards easing the high unemployment of the construction industry.
We are closely monitoring the evolving external economic scene. The Financial Secretary has undertaken to provide an update on the overall economic condition in the middle of this year and will introduce, as necessary, additional suitable measures to tide over the difficult period.
Ends/Friday, May 1, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:54
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