A trade union group yesterday appealed for a pay rise of between 7 per cent and 8.1 per cent this year for the city's workforce, after a poll reflected concerns that salary increases might not offset inflation.
More than half of the respondents, or 52.8 per cent, were extremely worried their pay rises this year would not be enough to counter rising living costs, the Confederation of Trade Unions' survey showed. Only 6.5 per cent were not worried.
The survey also found 55.5 per cent of respondents felt their employers were not willing to share increased profits and the fruits of the economic recovery.
The union interviewed 360 people from various sectors on the streets and by telephone last month.
The union said a pay rise should be able to reflect a worker's contribution to the economy, but the findings showed a different picture.
Only 31.2 per cent of respondents received pay rises last year, while 66.8 per cent had their salaries frozen.