Thousands march for minimum wage on May Day in Hong Kong

May 1, 2010, 12:38 GMT

Hong Kong - Around 3,000 people joined two separate protest marches in Hong Kong Saturday demanding employers pay a minimum wage of 4.25 US dollars an hour.

The May Day marches organized by the city's two main trade unions were organized to oppose the business lobby which wants a minimum wage capped at a maximum of 24 Hong Kong dollars (3.09 US dollars).

The Hong Kong government is expected to bring in legislation in the next two months to enforce a minimum wage for the first time in the wealthy city of 7 million.

The legislation has been fiercely opposed by the business sector which says a minimum wage will force some small firms out of business and lead to widespread job losses.

Currently, there is no minimum wage and some fast-food restaurant workers earn as little as 19 Hong Kong dollars (2.44 US dollars) an hour, recent surveys have found.

In Saturday's protest, marchers carrying banners set out from Victoria Park and marched to the Central Government Offices, demanding the 33 Hong Kong dollar minimum wage.

A spokesman for the Federation of Trade Unions said even a 33 Hong Kong dollar minimum hourly wage would give workers a take-home pay only slightly above what they would receive on unemployment welfare.

'If they are paid only 24 Hong Kong dollars 3.09 US dollars) an hour you can't really survive,' he said. 'People have to work very very long hours just to make ends meet.

'We want workers to have a life, and for their families to have a chance to thrive and a chance to thrive and for their children to grow up properly.'

The Hong Kong government's secretary for labour Matthew Cheung said he hoped to see minimum wage legislation passed by the summer.