The Chief Executive in Council has adopted the recommendation of the Minimum Wage Commission to maintain the prevailing Statutory Minimum Wage rate at $37.5 per hour.

Law said the minimum wage should not be understood as the only solution to low-income when Hong Kong’s economy is currently in a steep decline and unemployment is high.

“Under such an austere economic environment, maintaining the prevailing Statutory Minimum Wage rate can help strike an appropriate balance between the objectives of forestalling excessively low wages and minimising the loss of low-paid jobs," Law said.

The statutory Minimum Wage has come into force since May 2011 and this is the first time that the minimum wage level has frozen.

He said the decision has reached a consensus from the majority and 99.9 percent non-skilled employees under government service contracts obtained a salary higher than the minimum wage.