Construction workers will get pay rises ranging from 5 per cent to nearly 13 per cent from November, with more increases in the pipeline as demand for their services surges because of a building boom. However, the outlook for other trades is not so healthy amid a deepening euro-zone debt crisis and a fragile economy in the United States. The Construction Industry Employees General Union said a salary increase agreement, the biggest since 1997, was reached with contractors for 280,000 construction workers. 'Overall, there is not a huge shortage of workers. But for certain workers like bar benders and carpenters, we really need more. This is why they will have a bigger pay rise,' said Chow Luen-kiu, the chairman of the union. Bar benders are paid HK$1,100 a day, but they will receive HK$1,230 - 11.8 per cent more - from November, not August as reported previously. With an estimated shortage of 2,000 workers, their daily wage will rise to HK$1,360 in August next year and to HK$1,490 in 2013. The bar benders deal was announced in March. For carpenters working on formwork building construction, there is a shortage of 5,000. Their daily pay will rise from HK$950 to HK$1,000 in November, HK$1,300 next year, and HK$1,500 in 2013. Plumbers will see their daily wage climb 12.8 per cent to HK$880 from HK$780, while other workers such as plasterers and printers will get a 5 per cent rise. 'It may be the best time for construction workers after so many years of hardship. We have to seize the opportunity,' Chow said. Construction work in the private and public sectors is booming. Government infrastructure works alone rose from HK$20.5 billion in fiscal 2007-08 to HK$49.6 billion in 2010-11. Spending in 2011-12 will reach a record HK$58 billion. The union said a significant pay rise was needed to attract new blood to ease the problem of ageing staff. 'Among the 280,000 workers, about half of them are aged 50 or above. We must act now,' Chow said. Workers in other industries should consider switching to the trade, he said. The call may draw the attention of the 70 repair workers at Thyssen-Krupp Elevator. Earning a base salary of HK$7,000 a month, they have been on strike since Monday, as the pay at rival companies is HK$8,500. Talks with the management were continuing last night. Economist Andy Kwan Cheuk-chiu said although Hong Kong remained relatively unscathed by the global financial crisis, with the jobless rate falling to a 13-year low of 3.2 per cent, people should brace for rough times ahead. 'Many workers got a 5 per cent rise this year but the global downturn may hit us from the beginning of next year. The banking industry has already started cutting manpower,' Kwan said. HSBC announced earlier this month it would lay off 3,000 people - 10 per cent of its Hong Kong workforce - over three years. 8% The average year-on-year wage increase for selected industries in a government survey in nominal terms in June
