ENG-2019 — Page 155

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Employment

From 1 May, the Minimum Wage Ordinance was amended to increase the statutory minimum wage rate by 8.7 per cent to $37.50 per hour.

Labour Market

In 2019, the labour force totalled 3.97 million people, of whom 50 per cent were men and 50 per cent were women. The total represented a drop of 0.3 per cent over 2018.

The majority, or 88.6 per cent, were employed in the service sectors: 28.4 per cent in the import/ export, wholesale and retail trades, and accommodation (covering hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other establishments providing short-term accommodation) and food services; 28 per cent in public administration, and social and personal services; 21.3 per cent in financing and insurance, real estate, and professional and business services; and 10.9 per cent in transport, storage, postal and courier services, and information and communications. Only 2.3 per cent worked in manufacturing.

The overall unemployment rate rose from 2.8 per cent in 2018 to 2.9 per cent in 2019, while the underemployment rate remained at 1.1 per cent in 2018 and 2019. Total employment dropped by about 17,100 to 3,849,900.

Employment Earnings and Wages

During the year, 12 per cent of employed people earned less than $5,000 a month and 25.3 per cent earned $30,000 and above a month. Median monthly employment earnings rose by $600 to $17,100 from $16,500 in 2018. The median monthly employment earnings for higher- skilled workers, such as managers and administrators, professionals and associate professionals, were $30,000 in 2019, while those for lower-skilled workers were $13,000.

Wage rates as measured by the Nominal Wage Index for workers up to supervisory level increased 2.8 per cent in December 2019 over a year earlier.

International Labour Affairs

Hong Kong applies 31 international labour conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The city puts in place comprehensive legislative and administrative measures to implement standards set by these conventions.

Hong Kong takes part actively in ILO activities. In June, a team comprising representatives of employers, employees and the government attended the 108th Session of the International Labour Conference, a centenary conference marking the ILO's 100th anniversary, as part of the People's Republic of China delegation.

Labour Advisory Board

The Labour Advisory Board, a representative tripartite consultative body, advises the Commissioner for Labour on labour matters including legislation and ILO conventions and recommendations. Chaired by the commissioner, it has six members representing employers and six representing employees.

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