ENG-2014 — Page 147

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Employment

services; 25.9 per cent in public administration, and social and personal services; 19.7 per cent in financing and insurance, real estate, and professional and business services; and 11.4 per cent in transportation, storage, postal and courier services, and information and communications. Only 2.8 per cent worked in the manufacturing sector.

Employment Situation

The overall unemployment rate fell from 3.4 per cent in 2013 to 3.3 per cent in 2014, while the underemployment rate was 1.5 per cent in 2014, the same as that in 2013. Total employment rose by about 21,200 from 3,728,000 in 2013 to 3,749,200 in 2014.

Employment Earnings

In 2014, 12.9 per cent of employed persons earned less than $5,000 a month, while 18.2 per cent of employed persons earned $30,000 and above a month. The median monthly employment earnings rose by $400 from $13,000 in 2013 to $13,400 in 2014. In 2014, the median monthly employment earnings for higher skilled workers such as managers and administrators, professionals and associate professionals, was $25,000 while that for lower skilled workers was $10,500.

Wages

Nominal wages continued to register growth in 2014. Wage rates as measured by the Nominal Wage Index for workers up to supervisory level increased by 4.2 per cent between December 2013 and December 2014.

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.

There were 4,100 prosecutions for breaches of various ordinances and regulations by the Labour Department in 2014, resulting in fines totalling more than $24.27 million.

International Labour Affairs

Hong Kong applies 41 international labour conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). These conventions set standards that have a significant bearing on the formulation of Hong Kong's labour laws.

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