XN000022-1991-07-25 — Page 10

THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1991

THE WAGE INDEXES ARE DERIVED FROM THE RESULTS OF THE HALF- YEARLY SURVEY OF WAGES, SALARIES AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CONDUCTED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

THE SURVEY COVERS BOTH MANUAL AND NON-MANUAL WORKERS (EXCLUDING EMPLOYEES AT ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL LEVELS) IN SELECTED INDUSTRIES IN FIVE MAJOR ECONOMIC SECTORS. THE BASE PERIOD OF THE WAGE INDEX 18 MARCH 1982.

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 ARK PUBLISHED AT QUARTERLY INTERVALS.

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

HOURS

WAGE RATES REPRESENT THE AMOUNT OF REMUNERATION FOR NORMAL 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, YEAR-END BONUS AND OTHER GUARANTEED AND REGULAR BONUSES AND ALLOWANCES.

THAT

TOTAL PAYROLL IS THE AMOUNT OF DIRECT CASH PAYMENT EMPLOYEES RECEIVE FROM EMPLOYERS, AND THEREFORE ALSO INCLUDES OVERTIME PAY AND OTHER NON-GUARANTEED AND IRREGULAR BONUSES AND ALLOWANCE.

HENCE, STATISTICS ON PAYROLL PER PERSON ENGAGED TEND TO ВВ SENSITIVE TO CHANGES IN THE NUMBER OF HOURS ACTUALLY WORKED, THE TIMING OF THE PAYMENT OF BONUSES AND BACK-PAY, AND THE COMPOSITION OF THE LABOUR FORCE.

AS A RESULT, MOVEMENTS IN WAGES RATES DO NOT NECESSARILY CONFORM WITH THOSE IN PAYROLL PER PERSON ENGAGED.

THE SURVEY FINDINGS ARE PUBLISHED IN A REPORT ON HALF-YEARLY SURVEY OF WAGES, SALARIES AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS STATISTICS VOL. I, MARCH 1991 WHICH WILL BE ON SALE SHORTLY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE.

THE VOL.

II ISSUE OF THE REPORT CONTAINING DETAILED OCCUPATIONAL STATISTICS, SUCH AS WAGE RATES, NUMBER OF NORMAL HOURS OF WORK AND NUMBER OF STANDARD WORKING DAYS IS EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE IN MID AUGUST 1991.

FOR ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE WAGE INDEXES, PLEASE CONTACT THE WAGES LABOUR COSTS STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON TEL. 823 4744 OR 823 4747.

AND

THE NOMINAL AND REAL WAGE INDEXES FOR THE PERIOD MARCH 1990 ΤΟ MARCH 1991 FOR SELECTED MAJOR ECONOMIC SECTORS ARE GIVEN IN TABLE 1 AND TABLE 2 RESPECTIVELY.

/DETAILED BREAKDOWNS

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