Labour Department
5. The Commissioner of Labour is the principal adviser to the Government on
labour matters and is responsible for the development of labour policy and
all aspects of the Labour Department. He is currently the Commissioner of
Mines. The Commissioner is assisted by a Deputy Commissioner and two
Assistant Commissioners. The Labour Department is responsible for the
administration of five operational divisions which cover labour relations,
employment, industry, development, and industrial health.
The Commissioner of Labour is Mr R.M. Hetherington, D.F.C,, J.P.
Labour Legislation.
6. The Labour Department is concerned with administration of
13 Ordinances and subsidiary regulations covering health, safety and
welfare, conditions of employment, workmen's compensation and labour relations. During 1969/1970, six items of legislation became law. These included; (a) Workmen's Compensation (Amendment) Ordinance 1969; (b) Employment (Amendment) (No.1) Ordinance 1970; (c) Employment (Amendment)(No.2) Ordinance 1970; and (d) Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Amendment)(No.2)
Regulations 1969.
,
The amendment to the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance substantially increases
death and permanent disability compensation, and raises the level of periodic
payments for temporary incapacity; domestic and agricultural workers
previously excluded, are brought within the scope of the Ordinance.
The amendments to the two Employment Ordinance cover maternity protection in cloyment (to comply with International Labour Convention No.3), and
provide for an entitlement of 4 rest-days a month for all workers earning
less than 1,500 per month. The amendment to the Factories and Industrial
Undertakings Regulations prescribes a minimum working age for, and requires the medical examination of young persons in underground work (to comply with
International Labour Conventions Nos.123 and 124).
2.