A major Hong Kong labour group has called for a salary increase of at least 5.5 per cent next year after a survey found more than 65 per cent of workers cut their daily expenses to cope with the rising cost of living.

The annual pay trend survey, conducted by the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions, found that nearly half of the respondents needed to work overtime or had extra part-time jobs to earn additional income. But it showed that 63 per cent of workers received an average pay rise of 4.5 per cent.

The study polled 1,123 workers aged above 18 in August, with their salaries ranging between HK$10,000 (US$1,286) and HK$40,000.

The largest group of respondents earned between HK$20,001 and HK$25,000, accounting for 27.5 per cent of all interviewees.

The poll discovered that 66.5 per cent of participants had to lower their expenses due to this year’s salary adjustments, with 47.8 per cent saying they had to work overtime or take on extra part-time jobs to earn more.

It also found that 63 per cent of workers had a pay rise in the previous year, but 36.1 per cent experienced a salary freeze. The average adjustment was 4.5 per cent.

“Workers have said that the average salary increase of 4.5 per cent this year will help them a little, but it is not enough to handle their actual expenses,” federation vice-chairwoman Jenny Tam Kam-lin said on Tuesday.