EMPLOYMENT
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Territories is increasing, particularly in the new towns of Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung. Although most workers are engaged in modern manufacturing processes, traditional village industries still provide employment.
The 1976 by-census recorded a total working population of 1,867,480 - 1,209,590 males and 657,890 females. The distribution of the workforce was: agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing, 48,500; mining and quarrying, 1,020; manufacturing, 845,920; electricity, gas and water, 9,710; construction, 104,040; wholesale and retail trade, and restaurants and hotels, 361,680; transport, storage and communication, 136,180; financing, insurance, real estate and business services, 62,090; community, social and personal services, 284,970; and unclassifiable activities, 13,370.
Wages and Conditions of Work
Most semi-skilled and unskilled workers in the manufacturing industries are piece- rated, although daily rates of pay are common. Men and women receive the same rates for piece-work, but women generally are paid less when working on a time basis. Wages may be calculated on an hourly, daily or monthly basis or, alternatively, on piece rates, when they are customarily paid every 10 or 15 days.
Daily wages for the manufacturing industries in September, 1977, ranged from $24 to $70.30 for skilled workers; $17 to $48.90 for semi-skilled workers; and $15.70 to $34.20 for unskilled workers. Many employers provide workers with free accom- modation, subsidised meals or food-allowances, good attendance bonuses, paid rest days, and a Lunar New Year bonus of one month's pay.
A consumer price index (A), based on a household expenditure survey conducted during the period July, 1973, to June 1974, is compiled as an indicator of the effect of price changes on households spending $400 to $1,499 a month. In December, 1977, this index stood at 117 (see Appendix 16). A consumer price index (B) also is compiled to show the effect of price changes on households spending $1,500 to $2,999 a month. Under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, and its regulations, women and young people aged 14 to 17 are permitted to work a maximum of eight hours a day and 48 hours a week. After not more than five hours' continuous work, women and young people aged 16 and 17 must be given at least a half-hour meal and rest break and young people aged 14 and 15 at least a one-hour break. Neither group can work more than six days a week. In addition, the regulations limit overtime for women to 200 hours a year. On January 1, 1977, new legislation came into effect to reduce overtime for young people aged 16 and 17 by stages of 50 hours a year until its abolition in 1980. Overtime employment for young people aged 14 and 15 has always been prohibited.
No child under the age of 14 is allowed to be employed in industry. In addition to 117,202 regular day and night inspections of industrial undertakings by the Labour Inspectorate, three special campaigns against child employment were mounted in 17,421 factories during the year. A total of 459 cases involving 568 children were brought before the courts.
Women and young people are prohibited from working at night, underground or in dangerous trades. Since 1970, a number of large factories - mostly those engaged in cotton spinning - have been granted special permission to employ women at night, subject to stringent conditions. This concession is reviewed annually.