‘Balanced and acceptable’: labour chief defends helper wage rise amid criticism
Chris Sun says the 2.35 per cent increase to HK$5,220 reflects Hong Kong’s stronger economy, but unions and employers’ groups remain unsatisfied
Hong Kong’s stronger economic performance over the past year is the reason for raising the monthly minimum wage for foreign domestic helpers, the labour minister has said amid disappointment from both unions and employers’ groups.
Defending the government’s decision to raise the monthly minimum wage by 2.35 per cent to HK$5,220 (US$665), Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said the government sought to keep the annual adjustment mechanism “balanced and acceptable”.
Speaking after a radio programme on Saturday, Sun said: “If you look back, the average annual increase has been between 2 per cent and 2.5 per cent for many years.”
