More than 1,000 firms from different trades have pledged to support the Wage Protection Movement since its launch last October, benefiting 62,600 workers, Secretary for Labour & Welfare Matthew Cheung says.

More employers will join in as a result of growing public awareness of the movement, he added.

Speaking at a Printers Association ceremony today, Mr Cheung emphasised the Government's determination and sincerity in protecting workers. The Wage Protection Movement encourages enterprises to protect the wage level of cleaning workers and security guards through voluntary, non-legislative means.

"About 32,600 cleaning workers and security guards are directly or indirectly employed by organisations which have pledged to support the movement. Together with the 30,000 cleaning workers and security guards who have benefited under the wage requirement applicable to service contractors of government departments, public bodies and other related organisations, it is estimated that 62,600 workers are benefiting from wage protection, which accounts for one-third of our 187,000-strong cleaning workers and security guards," Mr Cheung said.

The movement provides employees with a stable and reasonable income and enhanced harmonious labour relations. It also helps employers recruit and retain outstanding employees.

"This will in turn improve service quality and staff morale, thereby benefiting both employers and employees and bring about a harmonious community," he added.

"We will continue to publicise the Wage Protection Movement by an all-embracing and all-level approach with a view to enlisting the support of more private enterprises and owners' corporations as well as other residents' organisations which employ the majority of cleaning workers and security guards in Hong Kong."