Achievements
工作回顧
Plastic Shopping Bag (PSB) Charge
The Sub-committee has been working very closely with
the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) to ensure
a smooth launch of the Plastic Shopping Bag (PSB)
Charge since its full implementation on 1 April 2015.
As an attempt to make sure that the local retail trade will
not be adversely affected by the scheme, we asked the
EPD to strengthen its communications with retailers. We
also encouraged our members to participate in a voluntary
reporting system on PSB usage so as to assist the EPD to
monitor the effectiveness of the scheme.
In February 2015, we arranged a briefing session for EPD
representatives, who updated our members on the scope
of exemptions and trade facilitation plan for the scheme.
Following this session, representatives from green groups
also invited our members to undertake new green
initiatives by utilizing the PSB fees collected.
With the objective to raise public awareness of the
importance of reducing excessive use of PSB and to
ensure the effectiveness of the full implementation of the
scheme, the Association has asked the Government to
enhance its publicity work on this front.
Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW)
In face of raising the hourly rate under the Statutory
Minimum Wage (SMW) to $32.5 on 1 May 2015, the
Association shared its views with the Minimum Wage
Commission (MWC) about the impacts of the two
successive reviews of the SMW. We called on the MWC
to be cautious and conservative in reviewing the SMW
rate, taking into account that our economy is undergoing
slower growth. We also raised our members’ concerns
about the ripple effect which would eventually push up
wages for employees at different levels, resulting in a loss
of low-paid jobs, as well as increasing difficulties in staff
recruitment and retention.
塑膠購物袋收費
委員會一直與環境保護署（環保署）緊密
合作，確保「塑膠購物袋收費」於2015年
4月1日全面實施後能順利推行。
為了確保「塑膠購物袋收費」計劃不會對
本港零售業造成負面影響，協會已促請環
保署加強與零售商的溝通。協會亦鼓勵協
會會員參與自願申報機制，向協會提供塑
膠購物袋用量數字，以協助環保署監督此
計劃的成效。
於2015年2月，協會舉行了一個由環保署
代表主講的簡介會，讓協會會員獲得有關
此計劃豁免範圍及便利營商計劃的最新資
訊。簡介會後，環保團體代表亦鼓勵協會
會員善用所得的塑膠購物袋徵費用於環保
新措施。
為了提高公眾減少使用膠袋的意識，及讓
公眾明白其重要性，並確保此項計劃能有
效地全面推行，協會已要求政府加強向公
眾宣傳這項計劃。
法定最低工資
鑒於法定最低工資水平由2015年5月1日
起提高至每小時32.5港元，協會就兩次檢
討法定最低工資所造成的影響，與最低工
資委員會交換意見。協會呼籲該委員會在
檢討法定最低工資水平時，應保持謹慎及
保守的態度，並考慮香港經濟增長正在放
緩。協會亦向該委員會指出，協會會員擔
心落實最低工資引發的漣漪效應，最終會
推高不同職級的僱員工資，導致低薪工作
流失，及增加招聘及挽留員工的困難。
67
