Legislators have told the government not to limit the number of workers protected by the proposed statutory minimum wage by introducing a narrow definition of cleaners and security guards.
The call came after an official said it must consider whether the safety net should be confined to those who were low-skilled and earning less than the average market rate.
Labour Commissioner Cherry Tse Ling Kit-ching told a Legco manpower panel meeting yesterday that more discussion was needed to clearly define cleaning workers and security guards.
According to official figures, the average monthly salary for a cleaner last December was HK$5,241 and the hourly rate was HK$25.20.
The average for security guards was between HK$6,643 and HK$7,115, while the hourly rate varied from HK$24.30 to HK$31.90, depending on shift work.
Workers cleaning external walls and those working in confined spaces such as water tanks and tunnels are paid much more than the average market rate adopted by the wage protection movement.