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Minimum wages

5.9

In Hong Kong there is no statutory minimum wage although under the Trade Boards Ordinance (Cap. 63) the Governor in Council may

fix, by Gazette notification, minimum rates of wages for trades in which wages are unreasonably low. Since the enactment of this legislation in

1940 no trade boards have been established.

5.10

Legislation on minimum wages exist in

all the six countries visited. In Indonesia

minimum wages are fixed for various regions and industries but, for unknown reasons, they are kept confidential by the Government officials responsible for their implementation. Despite the existence of legislation in Korea, no minimum wage has been fixed so far, and instead the Government is taking

administrative measures to ensure that at least

a certain amount is paid. Malaysia has promulgated minimum wages for specific trades which are less

organised, and the intention is to dispense with the minimum wage fixing machinery altogether as soon as the workers in these trades have become sufficiently organised and can enter into effective collective

bargaining with their employers. In the Philippines minimum wages are usually revised every two years. However, the introduction of the Emergency Allowance (which is a cost of living allowance) since August 1974 for employees receiving less than 600 pesos (or about HK$350) a month has reduced the need for frequent revision of minimum wages. Singapore legislation on this matter is limited to the fixing of minimum wages for children and young persons only, but the authorities concerned do not consider it

necessary to prescribe any such rates. Thailand is the only country which appears to give more

emphasis to this matter. A minimum wage (which

/however.....

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