S.K.H.L.K.M.S.S project learning (2006-2007)

F.3A GROUP3

Minimum wages –Employment terms for labour

Cover

Content

Situation of Hong Kong

Situation of different people-Workers

-Bosses

-Government

-Citizens and Tourists

Definition and standard of the minimum wages

Types of minimum wages

Advantages

Disadvantages

Statistics

Compare the statistics and real situation

Examples of successful countries

Conclusion

Feelings

Sources

Hong Kong practices capitalist system

↓

Corporations compete to get a great profit

↓

Bosses sweat their employees

↓

Legislation is needed to solve this problem

• Low-skilled and old workers are suffering from exploitation.

• Poor treatments.

• They have to use any method to earn the most.

• e.g.: McDonald and KFC: The two large-scale American Fast food shops.

• Has to treat lots of problems about bosses’ exploitation.

• earns great revenue through tourism.• e.g.: Hong Kong is Gourmet Paradise

since its products are cheap with good quality, which affects the tourism and the economic development.

Citizens buy products according to the price and quality.

Wages affect the production cost and price so much. The production cost and the selling price are proportional.

-It is a minimum level of payment established by law for work performed.

-To protect vulnerable workers from exploitation and become poor.

-It is legally enforceable.

-It may also have an economic objective to motivate workers.

• Region or district: Set up in those regions which most employees

suffer from exploitation like Sham Shui Po.

• Job type: Set up in those jobs which most employees

suffer from exploitation like catering and construction.

• The whole city or country: Every employee can be protected and it is fair

enough, however the minimum wages cannot be set up to satisfy different people’s needs.

• Reduces worker exploitation to employees.

• Protects employees• Improves the average living

standard for poor labor.• Stimulates consumption from

labors.• Reduces the wealth-gap

between the rich and the poor.

• Reduces government expenditure.

• Creates incentive for employees to work.

• Promotes harmony.• Reduces confilct between

labors and capitals.

• Hurts the least employable.• Causes umemployment situation by

reducing demand for workers.• Reduces profit margins of businessmen.• Increases labor cost which may cause

inflation.• Limits the freedom of both employers and

employees.• Reduces the international competitiveness.

Stand point of interviewer

Support

Not support

25%

75%

Employees

$4,000

$5,000

$6,000

$7,000

$8,000

$9000+

Employees think the salary of Minimum Wages should be about:

Employers

$4,000

$5,000

$6,000

$7,000

$8,000

$9000+

Bosses think the salary of the Minimum Wages should be about:

People suffering from unemployment

$4,000

$5,000

$6,000

$7,000

$8,000

$9000+

Unemployed people think the best salary of the Minimum Wages should be about:

Overall

$4,000

$5,000

$6,000

$7,000

$8,000

$9000+

Overall result of optimum salary of the Minimum Wages:

Employers $5000-$5999

Employees $6000-$6999

Unemployed people $6000-$6999

Overall $6000-$6999

Best range of the Minimum Wages thought by different people.

Most people (about 67%) agree that $6000-$6999 is the best salary of the Minimum Wages.

• Here is the Minimum Wage counted according to the standard set by the International Labor Organization:

Poverty value x Average no. of family members x inflation

= Minimum wage

3000 x 2.1 x (1+3%) = $6489

Compare with the result of the statistics, the range selected is similar to the counted result, which proves that citizens’ needs are sensible.

New Zealand

Australia U.K U.S. The Philippine

s

Taiwan Pakistan

1984 1986 1909 1912 1951 1956 1957

Japan India Holland Spain Portugal Belgium Korea

1957 1958 1959 1963 1964 1975 1986

China

1993

More than 90% of countries have such kind of legislation.

It can efficiently solve the problem of poor labors, hence reduces the conflicts and promotes harmony.

David: After project learning, I know more about the situation of low-technical and low-educated labor, and why the topic minimum wages is so popular in the society.

Iven: I know more about the use of the minimum wage after doing the project. Also, I feel happy because I can know more about the society of H.K. I feel difficult to do the project and present in English.

Kenny: After doing this project, I know that although Hong Kong is an international city, there are still many unfair things and problems, such as the Minimum Wages. I think no matter the government or general public should also take more care of the weaker people and help them if necessary.

Maggie:After doing this project, I think I have learnt more about minimum wages, and I think earn money is not easy. But I think this topic is too difficult to us and very difficult to use in English.

Jackson: After this project learning, I know more information about the minimum wages, it is important to workers; and also the situation in Hong Kong.

Kathy: I can learn many things through this project. I know more about the poor workers' living condition. It is important for the government to set up the minimum wages to protect them.

Ricky: After doing this project, I know that although Hong Kong is an international city, there are still many unfair things and problems, such as, Minimum Wages. I think no matter the government or general public should also take more care on the weaker people and help them if necessary.

• Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_Wage

• Book:

個人勞動工資福利 120 問 , 最低工資文集 .

• Scholarly article: Myth and Measurement The New Economics of the Minimum Wage.