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In response to the Labour Day processions today (May 1), a Government spokesman said that the Government is committed to improving employees' rights and benefits at a pace commensurate with the socio-economic development of Hong Kong. In doing so, we will seek to strike a reasonable balance between the interests of employers and employees.
The spokesman noted that a host of improvement measures in labour benefits and employee support have been introduced in recent years, these include the introduction of the statutory minimum wage and the Work Incentive Transport Subsidy Scheme. The implementation of the statutory minimum wage in the past two years has materially increased the income of grassroots workers and the new statutory minimum wage rate at $30 per hour has come into effect today.
The Standard Working Hours Committee has also been set up to provide a platform for the community to carry out an informed and in-depth discussion on working hours with a view to building consensus and identifying the way forward. The Committee will hold its first meeting early this month.
Besides, the Government has decided to legislate for a three-day statutory paternity leave and is pressing ahead with the preparatory work for legislation.
Regarding the container terminal labour dispute in the past month, the spokesman said that the Government will continue to spare no efforts in conciliating with a view to resolving the dispute as soon as possible.
"The Government attaches great importance to the views of the labour sector and will continue to engage stakeholders in advancing employee rights," the spokesman said.
Ends/Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:18
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