ENG-2015 — Page 140

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Employment

financing and insurance, real estate, and professional and business services; and 11.3 per cent in transport, storage, postal and courier services, and information and communications. Only 2.7 per cent worked in manufacturing.

Employment Situation

In 2015, the overall unemployment rate was 3.3 per cent, the same as that in 2014, while the underemployment rate fell to 1.4 per cent from 1.5 per cent in 2014. Total employment rose by about 31,700 to 3,780,900 from 3,749,200 in 2014.

Employment Earnings

In 2015, 12.7 per cent of employed persons earned less than $5,000 a month, while 19.9 per cent of employed persons earned $30,000 and above a month. Median monthly employment earnings rose by $1,110 to $14,500 from $13,400 in 2014. The median monthly employment earnings for higher skilled workers, such as managers and administrators, professionals and associate professionals, was $27,000, while that for lower skilled workers was $11,000.

Wages

Nominal wages continued to register growth. Wage rates as measured by the Nominal Wage Index for workers up to supervisory level increased 4.2 per cent between December 2014 and December 2015.

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 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 the city to meet internationally accepted labour standards.

During the year, two ordinances came into force. The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2014, which took effect from 27 February, provided for paternity leave as a new statutory benefit for working fathers. Eligible male employees are entitled to three days' paid paternity leave around the time of their children's birth. The Special Holiday (3 September 2015) Ordinance provided for a one-off holiday on 3 September 2015, which was the 70th anniversary day of the victory of the Chinese people's war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

The Employees' Compensation Ordinance, the Pneumoconiosis and Mesothelioma (Compensation) Ordinance and the Occupational Deafness (Compensation) Ordinance were amended with effect from 5 March to increase the amounts of a total of 18 compensation items payable in cases involving work accidents or prescribed occupational diseases.

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