64% who had wage increase – even higher?

After writing “36% of firms cut or did not increase wages?” (Jun 2) – some readers have asked – since real wage growth was 5.4 per cent (including employer CPF contribution) last year and 36 per cent of firms did not give a wage increase – does it mean that the real wage growth of the 64 per cent who had a wage increase was even higher?

Well, according to the report – “Data on annual wage change from the survey refer to the change in wages paid to full-time resident employees in continuous employment of at least one year. This is the only source that provides breakdown of total wage changes into changes in basic wages and bonuses for three categories of employees, namely the rank-and-file, junior management and senior management.”

Part time workers and full time workers not in continuous employment for at least a year excluded?

So, since part-time workers (those who work up to 35 hours a week) and full-time workers who did not work continuously for at least  12 months are excluded – does it mean that the real wage increase for all workers may even be lower?

Leong Sze Hian