The Housing Department will adopt the new mandatory requirement for non-skilled workers' monthly wages.

A tender offer will not be considered by the Government if the monthly wages offered to non-skilled workers are less than average monthly wages for the relevant occupation as published in the latest Census & Statistics Department's Quarterly Report.

Deputy Director of Housing Lau Kai-hung said about 500 cleaning workers and security guards to be employed under five Property Services Contracts to be invited next month will be protected by the new requirement.

The contracts cover cleansing and security services for nine public housing estates, including Chung On, Pok Hong, Cheung Wang, Cheung Kwai, Shek Lei (II), Kwai Shing (East), Kwai Hing and Tin Yat Estates, plus Nga Ning Court.

Extra measures to further protect workers' interest

The department will also require all contractors to enter into written employment contracts with workers and to specify the committed wages, working hours and overtime payment.

"To support payment claims, contractors will be required to use standard monthly salary statements with clear calculation of wages payable to workers. Both the contractors and their workers will be required to sign the statement as a declaration of its validity," Mr Lau said.

"Contractors are also required to use auto pay service and crossed cheques for salary payment to facilitate auditing."

Once malpractices are discovered, the department will take enforcement action. Cases will be referred to other Government departments for legal action if necessary.

Last month, the Housing Authority's Tender Committee endorsed a new tender evaluation Marking Scheme which aims to screen out bids with unreasonably low wages and low manpower input.

Proposal submitted to Housing Authority

As the mandatory requirement has been incorporated into the tender evaluation mechanism, the scoring items on wages commitment and related Sectional Pass Mark arrangement will be deleted from the scheme.

However, the scores on committed total man-hour input and committed maximum average daily working hours as well as the relative weightings of financial and non-financial scores will be maintained.

The proposal to incorporate the new mandatory requirement for monthly wages for non-skilled workers has been submitted for consideration by the authority's Tender Committee. If endorsed, the proposal will take effect in mid-May.