ENG-2013 — Page 147

Employment

services; 25.9 per cent in public administration, and social and personal services; 19.3 per cent in financing and insurance, real estate, and professional and business services; and 11.5 per cent in transportation, storage, postal and courier services, and information and communications. Only 2.9 per cent worked in the manufacturing sector.

Employment Situation

The overall unemployment rate rose from 3.3 per cent in 2012 to 3.4 per cent in 2013, while the underemployment rate was 1.5 per cent in 2013, the same as that in 2012. Total employment rose by about 67,200, from 3,660,700 in 2012 to 3,728,000 in 2013.

Employment Earnings

In 2013, 13 per cent of people with jobs earned less than $5,000 a month, while the percentage of people earning $30,000 and above was 17. The median monthly employment earnings rose by $1,000 from $12,000 in 2012 to $13,000 in 2013. In 2013, the median monthly employment earnings for higher skilled workers such as managers and administrators, professionals and associate professionals, was $25,000, while those with lower skills was $10,000.

Wages

Owing to a tight labour market and upward adjustment of the Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) rate in May 2013, wage rates as measured by the Nominal Wage Index for workers up to supervisory level increased by 4.1 per cent between December 2012 and December 2013. After discounting changes in consumer prices, wage rates showed a decrease of 0.2 per cent in real

terms.

Labour Administration and Services

The Labour Department, headed by the Commissioner for Labour, formulates and implements labour policies; enforces labour legislation; provides free employment services to employers and job seekers; promotes harmonious labour relations and responsible trade unionism; safeguards employees' rights and benefits; and promotes the occupational safety, health and welfare of the workforce.

Labour Legislation

The Labour Department administers Hong Kong's labour laws. Labour legislation, supplemented by administrative measures, provides the basis for the enforcement of employers' and employees' rights and obligations, and enables Hong Kong to meet internationally-accepted labour standards.

The Minimum Wage Ordinance was amended to increase the SMW rate by 7.1 per cent to $30 per hour with effect from 1 May.

The Business Registration Ordinance was also amended to reduce the rate of Business Registration Certificate levy which finances the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund with effect from 19 July.

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