[London2HK]

I know there is no 'min pay' here legally but is there one generally / socially? Surely no one will work for like $10 ph !?

For example, how much would someone in McDonalds, Mannings, PnS, cafe, restaurant workers get paid? Do waitresses/bar men work on tips here?

And the old ladies and gents who go through the bins for card board and cans, I assume its for money but how much could sodden cardboard really get you !? I don't know how they survive on work like this....

In the UK I think the min wage was something around £5.50 ($70ish) for 18+ but most jobs paid start at slightly more around £6 ($75ish)

Any ideas of how other countries compare?

Just being nosey / curious

[gypsy3x4]

The bin ladies get paid by the wrapped/packaged pound.
It's something like 4 dollars hong kong for a 5 pound thing of newspaper but it has to be tied together.
Cans have to be crushed and they get like 5 dollars for 5 pounds.
Plastic Bottles they get like 5 dollars for but they have to have this huge bag of them.
They get the most for scrap metal and unused carpet. it's something like 7 hong kong a yard.
Atleast this is what the nice bin lady tells me down stairs. She hunts all day and makes like 50 dollars.

[Drunken Master]

Fast food restaurants pay around 25 dollar per hour.

[matty_544]

those figures are outryt laughable

[hullexile]

Originally Posted by matty_544

those figures are outryt laughable

Don't see many of them laughing

[kombuchakid]

I know this is an exception but the couple I know, actually 2 couples who both own the flats they live in, yet spend the better part of the day/night in the collection of junk.
When I first came across this, it did not make sense to me, until patiently explained to me.
These people have been working all their lives, nothing else has entered their lives, neither education, nor hobbies or other frivolous pursuits. They are like grazing beasts on the savanah, who are out there whatever the weather whatever the day.
There is one exception though and that is the Lunar new year when eerily one does not see hide or hair of them for three whole days

[Toffeeboy]

I came back last year for holidays and got myself a job at a restuarant in Soho. They paid me 40/h which compared to what i got in England was awful (7 quid an hour back home). But i spoke to a lot of the local students and they said that 40/h is way above what the "chain" stores and eateries pay. McDonalds is like slave trade but not quite to the same extent.

The people who work in the Food and Beverage industry rely heavily on tips. They get hardly 7 or 8,000$ a month and then the tips could range anywhere near 1000.

Not great but people need to survive one way or another!

[London2HK]

$25 ph !?! That is criminal ! I can understand 'a bit more' if its a local cafe but I hope McDonalds pay more as they can afford higher wages.

When I get a cab, I just round it up and they always seem like a bit shocked...maybe they are shocked I'm not giving more?!
I don't know what the etiquette of tipping is here, generally I don't think we should be pressured to tip like in USA (Unless something is exceptional) but knowing they earn so little makes you feel a bit guilty.

[bookblogger]

Originally Posted by London2HK

$25 ph !?! That is criminal ! I can understand 'a bit more' if its a local cafe but I hope McDonalds pay more as they can afford higher wages.

I don't think they do... I seem to recall an SCMP story recently which listed the pay of staff in fast-food places, Maxims, Fairwood etc. I think McDonalds staff made $18 an hour.

[bookblogger]

Originally Posted by Toffeeboy

I came back last year for holidays and got myself a job at a restuarant in Soho. They paid me 40/h

I see the restaurant trade has increased the hourly rate by $5 since I worked in it 15 years ago