Political parties have joined forces to call for a minimum wage. Twenty-five lawmakers will present a petition today to press the chief executive to commit to legislating for one in his upcoming policy address.
The Democrats, Civic Party, The Frontier and their allies in the legislature reached a consensus yesterday to push for legislation on a minimum wage and will demand that Donald Tsang Yam-kuen address the issue on October 11.
Lee Cheuk-yan, convenor of the cross-party meeting, said it was significant that 25 lawmakers had united to campaign for a minimum wage.
'We have all along supported the setting of a minimum wage but this is the first time we clearly agree on a stance - that we want legislation,' he said.
The Civic Party's Alan Leong Kah-kit said there were still differences on whether a minimum wage should be introduced across the board in all industries or only in selected low-income sectors - such as cleaning and security services - where exploitation of workers is widespread. But such details could be tackled later, Mr Leong said.
Sources close to the government believe seeking such legislation is unrealistic.
