Policy Address
Labour
200. Subject to approval by the LegCo, the Statutory Minimum
Wage (SMW) rate will be increased with effect from 1 May this
year. This is the third time for the current-term Government to
increase the SMW rate, which will benefit tens of thousands of
low-income employees.
201. The Standard Working Hours Committee will submit its
report to the Government by the end of this month before its
term expires. The Government will take full account of the
report of the Committee and the views of various sectors of the
community, and strive to map out within the term of the current
Government the working hours policy direction that suits Hong
Kong’s socio-economic situation.
202. Currently, there are over 350 000 foreign domestic helpers
in Hong Kong, assisting over 280 000 households with
housework and taking care of the elderly and children in their
families. The Labour Department plans to introduce an
amendment bill in the second quarter of this year to provide the
legal basis for the newly promulgated Code of Practice for
Employment Agencies, and to impose heavier penalties on
employment agencies overcharging job seekers or operating
without a licence so as to achieve a stronger deterrent effect.
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