The Chief Executive in Council has adopted the recommendation of the Minimum Wage Commission (MWC) to maintain the prevailing Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) rate at $37.5 per hour.

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, said, "The Government has carefully considered the report of the MWC and is of the view that the MWC has ably discharged its statutory function of reviewing the SMW rate with thorough and balanced deliberations."

     He added, "During the current round of review of the SMW rate by the MWC, the Hong Kong economy was in a deep recession with an elevated unemployment rate and the economic outlook was faced with an unusually high degree of uncertainty. Under such an austere economic environment, maintaining the prevailing SMW rate can help strike an appropriate balance between the objectives of forestalling excessively low wages and minimising the loss of low-paid jobs."

     Dr Law paid tribute to the Chairperson of the MWC, Ms Priscilla Wong, and all members for accomplishing the review of the SMW rate. In accordance with the Minimum Wage Ordinance, the MWC will be required to submit the next recommendation report by October 31, 2022.

     The full text of the "2020 Report of the Minimum Wage Commission" is available at the MWC's website (www.mwc.org.hk).

Ends/Tuesday, February 2, 2021
Issued at HKT 16:38

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