Union chief says the chief executive's view on a minimum wage law has changed
Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen has made a breakthrough in his labour policy by accepting that legislation for a minimum wage, as advocated by labour unions, may be possible in Hong Kong, the head of the 300,000-strong Federation of Trade Unions said yesterday.
Wong Kwok-kin, whose FTU is the key supporter of Beijing and holds 37 seats on the 800-member Election Committee, said he had noticed a change in the chief executive's view on the issue since Mr Tsang took up the post last year.
His comments came amid continuing concerns over whether Mr Tsang, who worked for the colonial government for more than 30 years, could win the support of the Beijing loyalists for his re-election.
'When I first discussed with Mr Tsang some labour issues such as the minimum wage [legislation], he couldn't accept any of them,' Mr Wong said. 'In fact, he said clearly that he didn't believe in this line of thought,' he said, referring to a time shortly after Mr Tsang's appointment as chief executive.
In October, Mr Tsang announced the introduction of a voluntary 'wage protection movement' for cleaners and security guards and a comprehensive review of the policy in two years' time. If this movement 'failed to yield satisfactory results, we will set out to prepare the introduction of legislation for a minimum wage' in these two sectors, he told the legislature.
Mr Wong said that during a meeting with Mr Tsang a few months ago he had sensed a change in his attitude.