Letters | Don’t hit Hong Kong’s Covid-19 warriors with minimum wage freeze
In my opinion, the minimum wage should still be raised. Official data showed that there are only about 21,200 people in Hong Kong receiving the minimum wage of HK$37.50 per hour, most of them working for property management companies, or as security personnel or cleaning workers.
Simple morality demands that they be rewarded for their efforts and that their wages should not be frozen. It is unacceptable that the business sector is using the economic downturn as an excuse for opposing an adjustment in the minimum wage.
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Jobless struggle to make ends meet in Hong Kong as city battles coronavirus and recession
Some companies may argue that they have had difficulties in running their business and need to lay off employees or even close down. Perhaps they are concerned about the ripple effect of the increase in the minimum wage, that other higher paid employees will also demand a wage hike, which will increase operating costs. To prevent this problem, employers should come to an agreement with staff to postpone salary increases for those on higher pay scales. In tough times such as these, we must show mutual understanding.