XN000022-1979-03-09 — Page 3

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1979

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CONSISTENT WITH THIS VIEW, THEY EXPECTED WAGE RATES IN 1979 TO AVERAGE NINE PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN 1978. THE SAME PERCENTAGE INCREASE WAS ENVISAGED FOR THE PRICES OF RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES. BUT THEY EXPECTED EXPORT PRICES OF MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS TO INCREASE LESS, BY SEVEN PER CENT.

PRODUCTION WAS EXPECTED TO RUN AT 89 PER CENT AGAINST THE TOTAL CAPACITY DURING 1979, COMPARED WITH AN 87 PER CENT CAPACITY UTILISATION ATTAINED IN 1978. AT THE TIME OF SURVEY, MANUFACTURERS RECKONED THAT THE IR PRODUCTION CAPACITY, IN RESPECT OF BOTH MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT. AND FACTORY AREAS, WOULD EXPAND BY ABOUT FIVE PER CENT THIS YEAR.

CONTRACTORS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY EXPECTED PRICES OF BUILDING MATERIALS WOULD, IN 1979, AVERAGE 12 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN 1978. THEY ALSO EXPECTED WAGE RATES FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS TO SHOW SIMILAR INCREASES.

MACHINE CAPACITY IN THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES SURVEYED WOULD PROBABLY EXPAND BY EIGHT PER CENT AND THEIR TOTAL WORKFORCE BY 10 PER CENT THIS YEAR.

COPIES OF THE REPORT WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS AS WELL AS TO RESPONDENTS IN THE SURVEY. ENQUIRIES ON THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE MADE TO THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

BILL ON RAISING WAGE CEILING OF NON-MANUAL WORKERS GAZETTED

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THE WAGE CEILING ON NON-MANUAL WORKERS COVERED BY THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WILL BE RAISED IF A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE IS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1979,

(FRIDAY) PRO 2012S PUBLISHED

IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY), PROPOSES TO RAISE THE PRESENT CEILING UNDER THE ORDINANCE FROM $2,000 TO $3,500 A MONTH.

HOWEVER, FOR PURPOSES OF CALCULATING SEVERANCE PAY, THE BILL PROPOSES TO REGARD THE MONTHLY WAGES OF NON-MANUAL WORKERS AS LIMITED TO $3,000 OR THE ACTUAL WAGES, WHICHEVER IS THE LESS.

COMMENTING ON THE BILL A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: +SINCE WAGES HAVE RISEN, MAINLY BECAUSE OF COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS, A NUMBER OF NON-MANUAL WORKERS PREVIOUSLY ENTITLED TO PROTECTION AND BENEFITS OF THE ORDINANCE HAVE NOW BECOME EXCLUDI EXCLUDED FROM ITS COVERAGE.

+ACCORDING TO A REVIEW OF THE WAGE CEILING, IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT THE INCREASE IN WAGES BETWEEN JULY 1973 AND JUNE 1978 WAS ABOUT 54 PER CENT.

/+THEREFORE, ...........