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Friday, June 25, 1971
A second amendment requires an employer to be responsible for
the payment of stamp duty payable for any contract, bond, or guarantee
entered into by him.. This is the normal practice but it is considered
desirable that a statutory liability should be imposed.
The third amendment authorizes the Commissioner of labour in
person to refuse to attest a contract if he is satisfied that the terms
are unfair to the worker or do not adequately protect his interest.
At present, the Commissioner has no powers to refuse to attest
a contract which satisfies the provisions of the ordinance.
Occasionally, a grossly unfair contract is presented for attestation
and this has led in the past to complications over repatriating a worker
who has found the conditions intolerable ard the maintenance of his dependants ·
in Hong Kong at public expenso until he returns.
It is not expected that the powers will be used frequently but it is
considered that the Commissioner of Labour should be permitted to intervene
before such a contract is finalized.
The Commissioner of Labour will introduce the bill into the
Legislative Council at its next sitting on July 7.
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