XN000022-1988-10-17 — Page 13

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1988

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1.6

FROM JUNE 1987 TO JUNE 1988, THE REAL WAGE INDEX FOR THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR INCREASED BY

PER CENT; FOR THE WHOLESALE/RETAIL, IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR BY 5.7 PER CENT; FOR THE TRANSPORT SERVICES SECTOR BY 4.0 PER CENT; FOR THE BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR BY 9.6 PER CENT; AND FOR THE PERSONAL SERVICES SECTOR BY 6.8 PER CENT.

COMPARING JUNE 1988 WITH MARCH 1988, THE REAL WAGE INDEX FOR THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR INCREASED BY 0.3 PER CENT; FOR THE TRANSPORT SERVICES SECTOR BY 1.5 PER CENT; FOR THE BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR BY 3.8 PER CENT; FOR THE PERSONAL SERVICES SECTOR BY 1.2 PER CENT WHILE FOR THE WHOLESALE/RETAIL, IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES AND RESTAURANTS AND

HOTELS SECTOR REMAINED UNCHANGED.

THE REAL WAGE INDEXES FOR THE PERIOD JUNE 1987 TO JUNE 1988 FOR SELECTED MAJOR ECONOMIC SECTORS ARE GIVEN IN TABLE 3.

THESE NOMINAL AND REAL WAGE INDEXES ARE DERIVED FROM THE SURVEY OF WAGES, SALARIES AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CONDUCTED EACH QUARTER BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

THIS COVERS 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 INDEXES MEASURE CHANGES IN WAGE RATES BY HOLDING THE STRUCTURAL PATTERN OF THE LABOUR FORCE WITH RESPECT то INDUSTRY, OCCUPATION, SEX AND MODE OF PAYMENT TO 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 THE WAGES RECEIVED.

A SPOKESMAN FOR 'THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT DREW ATTENTION TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WAGE INDEXES AND THE INDEXES OF PAYROLL PER PERSON ENGAGED WHICH ARE ALSO PUBLISHED AT QUARTERLY INTERVALS.

HE POINTED OUT THAT WHILE WAGE RATES PROVIDE A MEASURE UNIT PRICE OF LABOUR, PAYROLL PER PERSON ENGAGED IS A MEASURE CAPITA EARNINGS.

OF THE

OF PER

WAGE RATES REPRESENT THE AMOUNT OF REMUNERATION FOR NORMAL HOURS OF WORK, AND ARE DEFINED TO INCLUDE BASIC WAGES AND SALARIES, COST-OF-LIVING ALLOWANCE, MEAL BENEFITS, COMMISSION AND TIPS, GOOD ATTENDANCE BONUS AND NIGHT SHIFT ALLOWANCE.

IN ADDITION, YEAR-END BONUS AND OTHER GUARANTEED AND REGULAR BONUSES AND ALLOWANCES THAT ARE PAID LESS FREQUENTLY THAN MONTHLY, ARE CONVERTED TO AN EQUIVALENT MONTHLY RATE WHEN COMPILING THE WAGE RATE INDEXES.

/TOTAL PAYROLL,