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.