The Federation of Hong Kong & Kowloon Labour Unions on Saturday called on bosses to give their workers a pay rise of at least six percent next year.

The labour group said the consumer price index remains at a high level, and its recent survey of more than 1,000 workers showed that about 70 percent thought their salary should be adjusted according to the rate of inflation.

The federation added that people want a bigger pay increase as they have more work to do now the economy is recovering.

While more than six out of ten interviewees got a pay rise this year, about half of the respondents said they were not happy with the pay adjustment, the body said.

The group said employers need to respond to employees' expectations in order to retain talent, noting that nearly 60 percent of the firms the respondents worked at were recruiting people.

But it also said the local labour market will see "challenges" as the first imported workers will arrive in the next few months.