Australia has a place called the Surfers’ Paradise; very soon it will add another place called the workers’ paradise! So what is keeping everyone happy?
Firstly there is the rather generous minimum wage of more than A$ 15 (approx. US$ 16, 11 euros, HK$ 120) per hour, which is among the best in the world. There is also the labour union which will campaign for a higher minimum wage regularly. While the minimum wages in many countries are set at subsistence level, in Australia it is clearly more than that – an hour’s minimum wage will enable the worker to buy a typical meal in a fast food chain with a comfortable amount of money to spare. Australia’s minimum wage can indeed provide a basic guarantee of livelihood and dignity to the worker.
Also unlike many other countries, the other end of the pay scale is not monopolised by those working in the government and big corporations. Notably, many are tradespersons or are involved in manual work. When I had a chat with a neighbour some time ago, he was clearly staggered by how much some of those people charge for some seemingly simple jobs. He said that they would take their job easy, have tea, talk, do a few things, and after not even half an hour, they would hand out a bill worth hundreds of dollars! If you want to earn more, you had better pay attention to a survey released last week: chefs, barge welders and even laundry hands working at offshore mining facilities on a 4-week on, 2-week off basis would earn at least A$ 420k per annum (approx. US$ 430k, 300k euros). The Australian Prime Minister, politicians and senior government officials can only look on with glee and jealousy. These high wages are actually a worry to the broader economy. The Australian mining industry has undergone a major boom thanks to the robust economies of China and many developing countries, and has a particularly strong demand for labour. Those companies are willing to and can afford to be competitive in the labour market by offering much better pay, but this in turn puts a lot of pressure on other industries. Some would consider it ridiculous that a barge welder can earn more than the prime minister, but this just shows that good pay is not the preserve of government and big corporations in Australia.
A society that keeps its lowest paid in good stead and allows more than a selected few to break into the highest-paid echelon will easily – and surely – keep everyone happy. Looking around the whole world, how can it not be called a workers’ paradise?
「職業不分貴賤」此話，在中國人社會早已淪為空談，在澳洲卻得到充分實現！
一來澳洲的最低工資不俗，時薪15澳元多（約港幣$120、16美元、11歐元），不僅位於世界前列，而且有工會定期爭取加薪。試想以香港的最低工資（5月1日起實施，時薪港幣$28，即約3.5澳元、3.6美元、2.5歐元），做滿一小時也不一定買得起快餐店的套餐，在澳洲不祇絕對可以，還會有錢剩下來，由此可看出澳洲最低工資者生活也有一定基本的保證和尊嚴。
二來我們中國人一向瞧不起的技工類或體力勞動工作，在西方國家可吃香，在澳洲尤甚，前陣子跟鄰居聊天，鄰居便隨便舉了三數例，那些上門修理、安裝甚麼的，「行行企企」、優游自在的做些簡單功夫，不消半小時，便盛惠幾百澳元！如想賺得更好的，上週便有薪酬調查指出，「一登離岸磡探台身價十倍」，每次離岸連續工作四週後休假兩週的廚師、燒焊工人甚至洗衣幫工，年薪最少42萬澳元（約336萬港元、43萬美元、30萬歐元），連日理萬機的澳洲總理及一眾官員也望塵莫及！
天價薪金背後不無隱憂，近年澳洲礦務開採受惠於中國和其他發展中國家的經濟增長而欣欣向榮，對勞工特別渴求，那些公司都不惜高薪請人，對其他行業的薪金帶來壓力。也有人說燒焊工人的年薪比澳洲總理還要高，實在有點荒謬，但這也說明了在澳洲社會，「打工皇帝」不一定是政府或大公司高層的專利。既然高薪階層沒有壟斷，最低薪者的收入也有充份的保障，大家可不用時刻計較自己職業的地位高低了。
When the government decides to hand out money to the society because of a massive budgetary windfall, the news should normally be very well received all round. But in Hong Kong, it’s turned into a mess!
In the face of a massive HK$ 70 billion (A$ 8.75 billion, US$ 9.0 billion, 6.4 billion euros) surplus, the Hong Kong government at first refused any mass handout fearing fuelling inflation, but later bulged under political pressure to give HK$ 6000 (A$ 750, US$ 770, 540 euros) to all permanent residents over 18 years of age regardless of how much they earn and whether they are actually currently residing in Hong Kong. In so doing, the new immigrants – many of whom needier than the general population – have missed out and were naturally none too pleased. The government then decided to extend the cash payment to the new immigrants as long as they first satisfy some means testing. But this smacks of officially-sanctioned discrimination, in a society that is starting to show strains of internal divisions. Need the government give a ‘helping hand’ on this?
During the previous term of government, there was a joke on how the former Chief Executive (the head of Hong Kong’s administration) was deciding to distribute the $100 in hand to make everyone happy while on a helicopter flight over Hong Kong. He discussed with others as to whether it would be best to drop one $100 note, two $50 notes, ten $10 notes or one hundred $1 coins, but in the end those on the flight decided that tossing him over board was the best option. Of course the former Chief Executive did not have the pleasure of actually distributing any money to the public during his term, but when this term of government has the opportunity to do so, it has turned such a blessing into a curse unto itself. So now what are the options?
政府有盈餘而向民眾派錢，本是皆大歡喜之事，在香港卻搞得一團糟！
事緣政府起初因不想刺激通脹而拒絕派錢，但屈服於政治壓力後決定向所有18歲以上的永久居民——不分貧富、不分居港年期——派港幣$6000，卻遺忘了新來港移民——他們當中低收入者為數不少，到現在又決定新移民接受入息審查後合資格的也可獲$6000。政府為何對永久居民如此慷慨卻對新移民銖錙必較，實在令人費解，香港社會分化夠多了，可需政府再插一刀？
董伯伯年代，曾有笑話揶揄他乘直升機視察香港時盤算如何分派手中的一百元最令大眾開心，究竟是擲一張百元鈔票、兩張五十元、十張十元或百枚一元硬幣好，結果機上其他人一舉把他擲出機外，說這才令大眾最開心。這回派錢，決策之草率、粗疏、反覆和矛盾真不知是可笑或是兒戲，甚至沒有令人人開心，莫非唯一解決方法，就是……
Firstly there is the rather generous minimum wage of more than A$ 15 (approx. US$ 16, 11 euros, HK$ 120) per hour, which is among the best in the world. There is also the labour union which will campaign for a higher minimum wage regularly. While the minimum wages in many countries are set at subsistence level, in Australia it is clearly more than that – an hour’s minimum wage will enable the worker to buy a typical meal in a fast food chain with a comfortable amount of money to spare. Australia’s minimum wage can indeed provide a basic guarantee of livelihood and dignity to the worker.
Also unlike many other countries, the other end of the pay scale is not monopolised by those working in the government and big corporations. Notably, many are tradespersons or are involved in manual work. When I had a chat with a neighbour some time ago, he was clearly staggered by how much some of those people charge for some seemingly simple jobs. He said that they would take their job easy, have tea, talk, do a few things, and after not even half an hour, they would hand out a bill worth hundreds of dollars! If you want to earn more, you had better pay attention to a survey released last week: chefs, barge welders and even laundry hands working at offshore mining facilities on a 4-week on, 2-week off basis would earn at least A$ 420k per annum (approx. US$ 430k, 300k euros). The Australian Prime Minister, politicians and senior government officials can only look on with glee and jealousy. These high wages are actually a worry to the broader economy. The Australian mining industry has undergone a major boom thanks to the robust economies of China and many developing countries, and has a particularly strong demand for labour. Those companies are willing to and can afford to be competitive in the labour market by offering much better pay, but this in turn puts a lot of pressure on other industries. Some would consider it ridiculous that a barge welder can earn more than the prime minister, but this just shows that good pay is not the preserve of government and big corporations in Australia.
A society that keeps its lowest paid in good stead and allows more than a selected few to break into the highest-paid echelon will easily – and surely – keep everyone happy. Looking around the whole world, how can it not be called a workers’ paradise?
「職業不分貴賤」此話，在中國人社會早已淪為空談，在澳洲卻得到充分實現！
一來澳洲的最低工資不俗，時薪15澳元多（約港幣$120、16美元、11歐元），不僅位於世界前列，而且有工會定期爭取加薪。試想以香港的最低工資（5月1日起實施，時薪港幣$28，即約3.5澳元、3.6美元、2.5歐元），做滿一小時也不一定買得起快餐店的套餐，在澳洲不祇絕對可以，還會有錢剩下來，由此可看出澳洲最低工資者生活也有一定基本的保證和尊嚴。
二來我們中國人一向瞧不起的技工類或體力勞動工作，在西方國家可吃香，在澳洲尤甚，前陣子跟鄰居聊天，鄰居便隨便舉了三數例，那些上門修理、安裝甚麼的，「行行企企」、優游自在的做些簡單功夫，不消半小時，便盛惠幾百澳元！如想賺得更好的，上週便有薪酬調查指出，「一登離岸磡探台身價十倍」，每次離岸連續工作四週後休假兩週的廚師、燒焊工人甚至洗衣幫工，年薪最少42萬澳元（約336萬港元、43萬美元、30萬歐元），連日理萬機的澳洲總理及一眾官員也望塵莫及！
天價薪金背後不無隱憂，近年澳洲礦務開採受惠於中國和其他發展中國家的經濟增長而欣欣向榮，對勞工特別渴求，那些公司都不惜高薪請人，對其他行業的薪金帶來壓力。也有人說燒焊工人的年薪比澳洲總理還要高，實在有點荒謬，但這也說明了在澳洲社會，「打工皇帝」不一定是政府或大公司高層的專利。既然高薪階層沒有壟斷，最低薪者的收入也有充份的保障，大家可不用時刻計較自己職業的地位高低了。
* * *
When the government decides to hand out money to the society because of a massive budgetary windfall, the news should normally be very well received all round. But in Hong Kong, it’s turned into a mess!
In the face of a massive HK$ 70 billion (A$ 8.75 billion, US$ 9.0 billion, 6.4 billion euros) surplus, the Hong Kong government at first refused any mass handout fearing fuelling inflation, but later bulged under political pressure to give HK$ 6000 (A$ 750, US$ 770, 540 euros) to all permanent residents over 18 years of age regardless of how much they earn and whether they are actually currently residing in Hong Kong. In so doing, the new immigrants – many of whom needier than the general population – have missed out and were naturally none too pleased. The government then decided to extend the cash payment to the new immigrants as long as they first satisfy some means testing. But this smacks of officially-sanctioned discrimination, in a society that is starting to show strains of internal divisions. Need the government give a ‘helping hand’ on this?
During the previous term of government, there was a joke on how the former Chief Executive (the head of Hong Kong’s administration) was deciding to distribute the $100 in hand to make everyone happy while on a helicopter flight over Hong Kong. He discussed with others as to whether it would be best to drop one $100 note, two $50 notes, ten $10 notes or one hundred $1 coins, but in the end those on the flight decided that tossing him over board was the best option. Of course the former Chief Executive did not have the pleasure of actually distributing any money to the public during his term, but when this term of government has the opportunity to do so, it has turned such a blessing into a curse unto itself. So now what are the options?
政府有盈餘而向民眾派錢，本是皆大歡喜之事，在香港卻搞得一團糟！
事緣政府起初因不想刺激通脹而拒絕派錢，但屈服於政治壓力後決定向所有18歲以上的永久居民——不分貧富、不分居港年期——派港幣$6000，卻遺忘了新來港移民——他們當中低收入者為數不少，到現在又決定新移民接受入息審查後合資格的也可獲$6000。政府為何對永久居民如此慷慨卻對新移民銖錙必較，實在令人費解，香港社會分化夠多了，可需政府再插一刀？
董伯伯年代，曾有笑話揶揄他乘直升機視察香港時盤算如何分派手中的一百元最令大眾開心，究竟是擲一張百元鈔票、兩張五十元、十張十元或百枚一元硬幣好，結果機上其他人一舉把他擲出機外，說這才令大眾最開心。這回派錢，決策之草率、粗疏、反覆和矛盾真不知是可笑或是兒戲，甚至沒有令人人開心，莫非唯一解決方法，就是……
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