Union Urges Minimum Wage Rise And Yearly Review

The Confederation of Trade Unions is calling on the government to raise the minimum wage from $34.5 to $44 an hour. It says the current minimum has not kept up with inflation and fails to protect workers.

The union also says the number of people who can directly benefit from the policy has significantly dropped since its introduction in 2011.

The union's general secretary, Lee Cheuk-yan, says government should review the wage once a year instead of every two years.

"It's only fair that all workers can face inflation, their livelihood can improve, and not deteriorate.But what happens now, you only have an increase every two years, your livelihood is deteriorating, it's getting worse, and this is the government's responsibility.

"Because they are the one that causes world poverty. they are the one that will not review the minimum wage so that we cannot catch up with inflation... It makes life worse for workers."

There have also been calls from the pro-establishment DAB for the wage to be reviewed every year, but the Labour Department has said there is no need for change as the current arrangement has been effective.