XN000022-1983-07-14 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, JULY 14, 1983

WHEN MARCH 1983 IS COMPARED WITH MARCH 1982, THE NOMINAL WAGE INDEXES FOR THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR INCREASED BY 8 PER CENT, FOR THE WHOLESALE/RETAIL, IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR BY 6 PER CENT, FOR THE TRANSPORT SERVICES SECTOR BY 16 PER CENT, FOR THE BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR BY 8 PER CENT AND FOR THE PERSONAL SERVICES SECTOR BY 7 PER CENT.

WITH THE MARCH 1982 INDEX AT 100, THE OVERALL REAL WAGE INDEX STOOD AT 97 FOR MARCH 1983, A DECLINE OF 2 PER CENT OVER DECEMBER 1982 AND OF 3 PER CENT OVER MARCH 1982.

THE REAL WAGE INDEXES FOR JUNE, SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER 1982 AND MARCH 1983 FOR SELECTED MAJOR ECONOMIC SECTORS ARE GIVEN IN TABLE 2.

WHEN MARCH 1983 IS COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1982, THE REAL WAGE INDEXES FOR THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR DECLINED BY ONE PER CENT. WHILE THOSE FOR THE WHOLESALE/RETAIL, IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR AND PERSONAL SERVICES SECTOR DECLINED BY 2 PER CENT EACH. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE REAL WAGE INDEXES FOR THE TRANSPORT SERVICES SECTOR AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR INCREASED BY ONE PER CENT EACH.

WHEN MARCH 1983 IS COMPARED WITH MARCH 1982, THE REAL WAGE INDEXES FOR THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AND THE BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR DECLINED BY 3 PER CENT EACH WHILE THOSE FOR THE WHOLSALE/RETAIL IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR AND PERSONAL SERVICES SECTOR DECLINED BY 4 PER CENT EACH. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE REAL WAGE INDEX FOR THE TRANSPORT SERVICES SECTOR INCREASED BY 4 PER CENT.

THESE WAGE INDEXES ARE DERIVED FROM THE SURVEY OF WAGES, SALARIES AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CONDUCTED EVERY QUARTER BY THE DEPARTMENT COVERING BOTH MANUAL AND NON-MANUAL WORKERS (EXCLUDING WORKERS AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL LEVELS) IN SELECTED INDUSTRIES IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, THE WHOLESALE/RETAIL, IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR. THE TRANSPORT SERVICES SECTOR, THE BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR AND THE PERSONAL SERVICES SECTOR.

SUCH WAGE INDEXES MEASURE CHANGES IN WAGE RATES BY HOLDING THE STRUCTURAL PATTERN OF THE LABOUR FORCE WITH RESPECT TO INDUSTRY, OCCUPATION, SEX AND MODE OF PAYMENT THE SAME AS THAT OF MARCH 1982, WHICH IS THE BASE PERIOD OF THE WAGE INDEXES. WHILE THE NOMINAL WAGE INDEX MEASURES CHANGES IN WAGE RATES IN MONEY TERMS. THE REAL WAGE INDEX, WHICH IS OBTAINED BY DEFLATING THE NOMINAL WAGE INDEX BY THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A), MEASURES CHANGES IN THE PURCHASING POWER OF WAGES, ALTHOUGH THE SAME DEFLATOR IS USED FOR EACH INDUSTRY TO DERIVE THE REAL WAGE INDEX FROM ITS NOMINAL COUNTERPART, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MOVEMENTS OF THE NOMINAL WAGE INDEX AND THE REAL WAGE INDEX BETWEEN ANY TWO TIME PERIODS MAY VARY SLIGHTLY FROM INDUSTRY TO INDUSTRY DUE TO ROUNDING.

APART FROM BASIC WAGES AND SALARIES, WAGE RATE IS DEFINED TO INCLUDE ALSO COST-OF-LIVING ALLOWANCE, MEAL BENEFITS, COMMISSION AND TIPS, GOOD ATTENDANCE BONUS, NIGHT SHIFT ALLOWANCE, YEAR-END BONUS AND OTHER GUARANTEED AND REGULAR BONUSES AND ALLOWANCES.

/A SPOKESMAN