EMPLOYMENT
19
electronics technicians and has also expanded similar facilities for mechanical and electrical engineering technicians.
WAGES AND CONDITIONS OF WORK
Most semi-skilled and unskilled workers in the manufacturing industries are piece-rated, although daily rates of pay are also common. Men and women receive the same rates for piece-work but women are generally paid less when engaged on a time basis. Wages may be calculated on an hourly, daily, or monthly basis. and are customarily paid twice monthly or weekly.
The range of daily wages for the manufacturing industries at the end of 1970 was $11.00 to $37.00 for skilled workers; $7.00 to $26.00 for semi-skilled; and $6.20 to $16.30 for unskilled. Many employers provide their workers with free accommodation, sub- sidised meals or food-allowances, good attendance bonuses, and paid rest-days as well as a lunar new year bonus of one month's
pay.
A Consumer Price Index, intended as an indicator of the effects of price changes on household expenditure, continued to be published throughout the year. It varied from 121 to 133 (base of 100=period of September 1963 to August 1964). In December 1970 this index stood at 126. A special index based on the expenditure of households spending less than $600 a month and known as the Modified Consumer Price Index is also published and used as the basis for monthly adjustment in the salaries of minor staff in government service. A proportion of the wages of all minor staff (Scale 1) in the public service is adjusted quarterly by reference to this index.
The Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance is the basis for the control of hours and conditions of work in industry. On December 1, 1967, amending legislation came into force which introduced a phased programme to reduce by December 1, 1971 the maximum standard hours for women and young persons to eight a day and 48 a week. The first, second, and third stages of this programme have been implemented without serious difficulties. The fourth phase came into force on December 1, 1970 and reduced the maximum standard working hours for women and for young
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.