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HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
INFORMATION
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES Nɔ. 63
DETEBYSE
SERVICES
4WA 18/16
PALL
MALL
LONDON S. W. 1
Phone: 01-930-7951
15th February, 1968.
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33-POINT LABOUR REFORM PROGRAMME PROPOSED
Hong Kong's Commissioner of Labour, Mr. R.M. Hetherington, yesterday described in broad terms the scope of the principal legislative measures which he was now examining.
Speaking in the Legislative Council, Mr. Hetherington outlined 33 items in this programme, including new provi- sions for conciliation, joint consultation, welfare, redundancy and holidays.
These
1.
The bulk of the proposals concern welfare. would affect the vast majority of workers, the Commis- sioner said.
"A draft Bill will deal with contracts of service and protection of wages," he said. "It will clarify the rights and obligations of workers and employers who enter into contractual arrangements. It will, in particular, distinguish between regularly employed and casual workers, irrespective of the basis on which wagos might be calculated. It will also protect wages in conformity with Convention No.95 of the International Labour Organisation. It is intended to frame the Bill so that other parts may be conveniently added in the future with the objective of compiling in due course a Comprehensive Ordinance dealing with the main problems of employment".
Mr. Hetherington said another measure affecting the welfare of many workers concerned redundancy. He hoped to be able to recommend statutory entitlements for redundancy payments based on length of service and other relevant considerations.
A third measure, which might eventually become part of the proposed Employment Ordinance, concerned fee-charging employment agencies. It would introduce comprehensive measures of supervision over all the activities of these agencies to protect workers from unscrupulous exploitation. Some initial safeguards would be included in the Employment Bill.
A fourth related measure would deal with the interests of workers going overseas for employment under contract.
Mr. Hetherington said a second major piece of legislation concerning the welfare of large numbers of workers involved the Workers' Compensation Ordinance. It was his intention to put forward proposals to amend the existing logislation in two stages.
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