We'd legislate, regardless of bosses, were 'wage protection movement' ruled a flop in 2008, says minister
Labour minister Stephen Ip Shu-kwan pledged yesterday the government would move straight to legislate on a minimum wage, regardless of objections by the business sector, if the newly proposed 'wage protection movement' proves unsuccessful.
The secretary for economic development and labour was speaking on Commercial Radio phone-in programme On a Clear Day, where he fended off criticism that the proposal announced in Wednesday's policy address was a 'toothless tiger' since it only 'threatened' legislation in two years' time.
Mr Ip warned that employers would have to bear the result of legislation if they did not join the movement and voluntarily pay cleaners and security guards no less than the average for the sectors.
'If we find them not responding to the movement after two years, it is very clear we will plan the legislation according to the timetable because we have already given them the opportunity,' he said.
Mr Tsang said in his policy address that the government would 'set out to prepare for the introduction of legislation for a minimum wage' for cleaners and security guards if a review in two years found the campaign had failed.
Mr Ip refused to say how many employers would need to join the movement before it was deemed to have delivered 'satisfactory results', saying that it was something for the Labour Advisory Board to decide.