The SAR has the least protection for workers and the weakest social safety net for the jobless of industrialised economies in the North Pacific, a survey has found. The study examined workers' rights and benefits locally and in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, the United States and Canada. It showed Hong Kong as the only economy that did not have a minimum wage, or unemployment insurance other than welfare payments. The SAR was the only economy without legal protection for collective bargaining or against forced overtime work, according to the study compiled by union leaders at the North Pacific Trade Union Forum held this week in Hong Kong. Unlike the other countries, local unions had no legal power to demand companies consult them before sacking workers or cutting salaries. Workers in the SAR also could be forced to work unpaid overtime or risk being fired, with no legal recourse. Mark Rankin, of the United States' leading labour organisation, the AFL-CIO, said the lack of a truly democratic government was the key reason behind Hong Kong's insufficient labour protection. 'There has always been top-down administration carried over from the colonial government,' he said. Lee Cheuk-yan, general secretary of the Confederation of Trade Unions and a Legislative Councillor, blamed the short-term vision of councillors and officials. 'All they think about is cutting costs . . . if they want the economy to recover, they must stimulate the economy by cutting taxes and creating jobs.' The Education and Manpower Bureau issued a statement yesterday saying a minimum wage or unemployment insurance would weaken Hong Kong's ability to compete with its neighbours for business and would also take away employees' incentive to work hard. 'The existing system whereby wages are determined by market forces is essential to ensuring that Hong Kong has in place a highly motivated, dynamic and enterprising workforce,' the bureau said. But Bill Jordan of the Brussels-based International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, who attended the forum, said: 'Nobody in their right mind would say people in Hong Kong are workshy. They have a reputation of being one of the most industrious people in the world.'