On the 28th, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam delivered a speech at the International Labour Day banquet in Hong Kong, stating that the SAR government attaches great importance to workers' rights and continuously strives to enable workers to fully develop their strengths in a better working environment and conditions, and enhance Hong Kong's talent attraction and competitiveness. Li Jiachao said that the SAR government actively enhances the value and empowerment of Hong Kong employees. In last year's policy address, it proposed reforming the Employees Retraining Board and strengthening labor training. The Employees Retraining Board has implemented a series of reform measures, including the cancellation of educational qualifications and the expansion of service targets. The SAR government will continue to formulate long-term reform plans for the Employees Retraining Board, support local employees to receive various vocational training, equip Hong Kong workers with more new industry skills, and cope with the challenges and opportunities brought by fierce market competition, rapid industrial development, and technological changes. Li Jiachao mentioned that this year's International Labor Day, also known as May Day, will be even more meaningful. The SAR government will officially implement the cancellation of the "offsetting" arrangement for the Mandatory Provident Fund on that day, further improving the retirement protection of employees; The statutory minimum wage will be increased by 5.3% on the same day, which is HKD 42.1 per hour. Hong Kong has returned to the top ten in the world in the 2024 World Talent Rankings, climbing in multiple talent competitiveness projects, demonstrating that Hong Kong has achieved the expected results in cultivating and introducing talents. Hong Kong has an internationally leading workforce, and it is even more important to tell the world the good stories of Hong Kong's talented workers. ”Li Jiachao said. (New Society)