ENG-1965 — Page 43

EMPLOYMENT

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varying agreed dates. In some cases the wage increases were covered by written collective agreements.

The range of daily wages for the manufacturing industry at the end of 1965 was: $9.00 to $27.00 for skilled workers; $5.50 to $20.00 for semi-skilled; and $4.40 to $11.00 for unskilled. Many employers provide their workers with free accommodation, sub- sidized meals or food allowances, good attendance bonuses and paid rest days as well as a Chinese New Year bonus of one month's

pay.

The wages of some lower paid government staff are related to a retail price index by means of a cost of living allowance based upon it. The index is calculated on the basis of a survey carried out in 1948. A base of 100 fixed for March 1947 is used, and the index normally shows month by month fluctuations reflecting, for example, the rise in commodity prices before Chinese New Year. During 1965 the index fluctuated between 125 and 132 with an average of 128. A new consumer price index was published, based on a household expenditure survey conducted by the Commerce and Industry Department. It will in due course replace the retail price index as an indicator of the effects of price changes on house- hold expenditure.

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In June, a Salaries Commission appointed at the beginning of the year to consider the general level of salaries of the main groups of employees in the public service recommended an award of 121⁄2 per cent increase in substantive salary for the period 1st July 1963, to 31st August 1964, to replace an interim non-pensionable allowance and children's allowance granted in 1964. This award did not apply to minor staff whose wages and salaries had been treated separately. The recommendation was later accepted by the government. In the same month, the armed services and the Ministry of Public Building and Works granted their industrial employees a wage increase aimed at bringing wage levels broadly into line with minor staff wage levels in the government service following increases granted to such staff in December 1964. The Salaries Commission's final report was published on 29th September. This report recom- mended continuance of the 124 per cent award from 1st September 1964 to 31st March 1965, and thereafter, generally and with certain exceptions, a further increase of approximately 3 per cent. On 22nd December it was announced that the government had decided to