ENG-1982 — Page 83

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EMPLOYMENT

urban households spending between $1,000 and $3,499 a month in the base period of 1979-80. In December, 1982, this index stood at 135. (See Appendix 16). A Consumer Price Index (B) was compiled to show the average price changes experienced by urban households spending between $3,500 and $6,499 a month in 1979–80. This covers about 30 per cent of the urban households in Hong Kong.

In September, 1982, 75 per cent of workers engaged in manufacturing industries received daily wage rates (including fringe benefits of $56 or more (males $68 and females $53), and 25 per cent received $84 or more (males $103 and females $75). The overall average daily wage rate was $73 (males $87 and females $67).

Besides granting rest days, statutory holidays, paid annual leave and other entitlements under the Employment Ordinance, many employers in the manufacturing industries provide workers with subsidised meals or food allowances, attendance bonuses, free medical treatment, and a Lunar New Year bonus of one month's pay or more. Free or subsidised accommodation and transport are also provided by some of the larger establishments.

Starting in March, 1982, a new expanded survey of wages, salaries and employee benefits was introduced to replace the existing wage survey. As a result, wage rate statistics for non-manual workers in the manufacturing industries as well as for manual workers and non-manual workers in the non-manufacturing industries are available. Both the new and the old series were published for March for linking purposes. From then on the old series was discontinued.

Employment of children under the age of 14 in the industrial sector has long been prohibited by law. These statutory provisions were extended to all economic sectors from September 1, 1979. Moreover, in line with the government's policy of compulsory junior secondary education, since September 1, 1980, the minimum age for employment in all sectors has been 15 years. The only exceptions are that children aged 13, or above, may be permitted to work in non-industrial establishments subject to very stringent conditions aimed at ensuring their education to Form III and at protecting their health, safety and welfare.

Under the Women and Young Persons (Industry) Regulations, young people aged 15 to 17 and women are permitted to work a maximum of eight hours a day, six days a week. A meal or rest break of at least 30 minutes must be given to women and young people aged 16 and 17 after five hours continuous work. In the case of young people under the age of 16, the break must not be less than one hour. Overtime employment for women is restricted to 200 hours a year, while young people are not permitted to work overtime. In addition, work for all young people may not start earlier than 7 a.m. nor end later than 7 p.m. while work for women may not start earlier than 6 a.m. nor end later than 8 p.m. The regulations also prohibit the employment of women and young people working at night, underground, or in dangerous trades. However, some large factories - mostly those engaged in cotton spinning have been granted special permission to employ women at night, subject to certain stringent conditions.

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Since November, 1980, the labour inspectorate of the Labour Department has taken on additional enforcement responsibilities included in the Immigration Ordinance which aimed at stopping the influx of illegal immigrants into Hong Hong. Under the ordinance, all employees are required to carry their proof of identity and employers are required to maintain up-to-date employees' records. Employers are also prohibited from employing anyone who does not possess a valid proof of identity and those Vietnamese refugees who have been prohibited from being employed under the ordinance.