【英语中国】香港通过首部最低工资条例

Hong Kong lawmakers on Saturday overwhelmingly passed the city's first minimum wage bill, marking a victory for labor unions and activists who for years have sought statutory wage protection for low income workers in this business-friendly city.

The bill was enacted following a marathon 41-hour debate, and comes nearly two years after the Hong Kong government bowed to immense public pressure and announced plans to seek a minimum wage for workers.

The new bill doesn't stipulate the actual wage level. Instead, a committee appointed by the government will recommend the hourly rate, which will be decided on as early as August.

Local unions and labor groups are seeking minimum hourly wages of 33 Hong Kong dollars (US$4.23) to sustain the livelihood of the city's lowest-income group, though representatives from the business community argue that the rate is too high and would ultimately lead to layoffs in certain industries as operating costs substantially increase with higher wages.

The minimum-wage law won't cover the tens of thousands of live-in foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong.

These workers, mainly from the Philippines and Indonesia, are already promised a minimum monthly wage of HK$3,580 to assist in day-to-day household chores.

The law was opposed by business representatives, who said it will hurt competitiveness, but was welcomed by social groups.

Secretary for Labor and Welfare Matthew Cheung told reporters the passing of the bill 'marks a very important milestone in the protection of our labor, particularly grassroot workers in Hong Kong.'

Mr. Cheung acknowledged concerns of possible layoffs, and said the government will closely monitor developments once the minimum-wage law is implemented in the first half of 2011.

'We will be watching the situation carefully and do what we can to help those displaced because of this new measure, help to retrain them and if necessary, provide social security for them,' he said.

The government had for several years resisted public demands for a minimum wage, and relied on a voluntary program, which ultimately failed to meet its expectations.

As part of the new law, the government will review the minimum-wage level at least once every two years.

香港立法会7月17日以压倒多数通过香港第一部最低工资条例，这是多年来在这个对企业友好的城市为低收入工人争取法定工资保障的劳工组织和活动家们的一次胜利。

经过长达41个小时的马拉松式辩论后，该法案得以颁布，而早在两年前香港政府就向巨大的公众压力低头，宣布了试图实现工人最低工资标准的计划。

这一新的条例并没有说明实际的工资水平，相反港府任命一个委员会将就时薪提出建议，最早将于8月决定时薪水平。

香港本地工会和劳工组织希望将最低时薪定在33港元（合4.23美元），以维持香港低收入群体的生计，不过企业代表争辩道，时薪太高了，最终将导致一些产业裁员，因运营成本实际上与工资一起上涨。

最低工资条例并不涵盖在香港工作的成千上万的外籍家政工作人员。

这些工人主要来自菲律宾和印度尼西亚，他们已被承诺最低月工资为3,580港元，他们主要在香港家庭里做家务活。

该条例受到企业代表的反对，他们说这将损击企业的竞争力，但受到社会群体的欢迎。

香港劳工及福利局局长张建宗对记者说，这一条例的通过，标志着保护香港劳工，尤其是基层工人的重大里程碑。

张建宗承认担忧企业可能裁员，并说一旦最低工资法在2011年上半年实施，港府将密切关注事态发展。

他说，我们将密切关注事态，尽我们所能帮助那些因为新措施而失业的人，帮助重新培训他们，如果有必要的话，向他们提供社会保障。

数年来港府一直反对公众对最低工资的需求，而依赖于自愿方式，但自愿方式最终没能达到其预期。

作为新条例的一部分，港府至少将每两年一次审视最低工资水平。