The findings of a survey show that 19 out of 21 surveyed enterprises plan to raise wages ranging from 3.2 to 3.7 percent for employees of all ranks, while the remaining two said that they were freezing their employees’ salaries, according to a press conference held at University of Macau (UM) yesterday about the survey.
The survey, entitled “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Guangdong Cities) Pay and Benefit Survey”, was conducted by the Hong Kong Baptist University Centre for Human Resources Strategy and Development, Research Centre for Human Resources Management, School of Business of South China University of Technology, Hong Kong People Management Association, and the Talent Development and Management Association of Guangdong, in conjunction with the University of Macau and Macau Greater Bay Area Human Resources Association.
The findings of the survey show that from July last year to June this year, local enterprises had raised wages ranging from 1.9 percent to 2.7 percent, adding that during the period six of the 21 enterprises indicated there would be a pay freeze, while one said it had reduced its employees’ wages.
As for the salary adjustment forecast for next year, the overall increase of the 21 enterprises is predicted to range from 2.8 to 3.3 percent. Two of the 21 enterprises said that they were planning a pay freeze, while the overall adjustment increase of the remaining 19 is forecast to range from 3.2 to 3.7 percent, according to the findings.
A total of 21 local companies participated in the survey, covering banking and finance, construction, energy and chemicals, environmental protection, engineering, hospitality and catering, information and communication technology, logistics and transport, manufacturing, services, and retail and trading, among others.
According to the survey, about 85 percent of the respondents were from small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 200 employees, and a total of 2,648 employees participated in the survey.
The findings show that the average starting salary of fresh graduates varies according to the nature of the job, with the highest average starting salary recorded for information technology (IT) amounting to 14,000 patacas, according to the findings.
Meanwhile, according to the findings, most employers prioritise the overall performance of their company, followed by individual employees’ performance when considering salary adjustments for their staff.
Participants, speakers and students involved in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Guangdong Cities) Pay and Benefit Survey pose during a press conference held yesterday at University of Macau (UM). – Photo: Ginnie Liang
