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"The first Bill deals with the extension of coverage of existing provisions, in terms of both monthly income and occupations, the question of com- pulsory insurance in selected dangerous trade benefits for those who become incapacitated permanently, and the rate of periodical payments in the light of re- commendations of the International Labour Organisation and established practice elsewhere," he said.
"Subsequently, I propose to deal in a second Bill with the supply of prostheses and hospitalisation, excluding out-patient treatment."
"These two Bills sock to provide injured workers with benefits more in line with present day conditions in Hong Kong," Mr. Hetherington said.
The Commissioner then outlined a group of four measures dealing with holidays and rest days. They included a measure to ensure that industrial holidays coincided with general holidays in the Holidays Ordi- nance, which was amended last year. mong the four measures was one concerning the provision of a statutory right to a six-day week for adult male workers in industry and in some services. A statutory right to a six-day week would allow for voluntary overtime on the seventh day.
Another group of four related subjects concerned young persons. Mr. Hetherington said that problems of industrial training were being considered in two measures. He went on; "Legislation on the important aspects of craft apprenticeships would deal with the contents of apprenticeship contracts, protection of apprentices, and approval of apprenticeship training schemes. Later, a more comprehensive measure industrial training may emerge from advice given by the Industrial Training Advisory Committee and its ten associated committees".
The Commissioner was also co-operating with other Departments in considering logislation for a minimum age of employment in hotel, restaurant and boarding house trades, and possibly also in hawking.
Another related group of four items concerned those aspects of labour-management relations which usually attracted the most attention. Mr. Hetherington pointed out that it was sometimes overlooked that most difficulties which arose between labour and management were solved directly by the two parties concerned.
"Although in 1966-67 the Conciliation Section dealt with about 2,600 cases, I am quite sure that these represe: only a small proportion of disputes of all kinds," he said. It is a proper function of the Labour Department to attempt to reconcile the two partics who wish to turn to a neutral third party for help. Recourse
to voluntary conciliation has been common and generally a successful method of procedure for over 20 years. Nevertheless, recent experience has suggested that additional machinery may be necessary to settle disputes not amenable to voluntary conciliation.
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