18-
78.
霉
In 1979 steady pro ress was maintained in the
field of labour legislation. Major improvements included:
(a) rectifying the deficiencies of the
(b)
provisions of the Employment Ordinance concerning paid annual leave;
widening the coverage of the Employment Ordinance to include non-manual workers cerning up to $3,500 per month;
(c) introducing a minimum age of employment in
all sectors;
(a) regulating the part-time employment of
children in non-industrial work.
Overtime for young persons aged 16 and 17 in industry was abolished with effect from 1 January 1980.
79.
For 1980 the following package of legislative improvements is planned:
(a) a general overhaul of the Workmen's
(b)
Compensation Ordinance, including increased benefits;
a compensation scheme for workers suffering from the occup tional disease of pneumoconiosis (silicosis and asbestosis);
(c)
control of employment agencies dealing solely with the recruitment of domestic
80.
servants, and the restructuring of existing
legislation relating to the control of
employment of women and young persons in industrial undertakings so that such
matters fall within the purview of the Employment Ordinance;
(a) maternity lor ve benefits (depending on the
results of consultation being held at present with both sides of industry and the advice of the Labour Advisory Board); there is at present no requirement for maternity leave to be paid;
(e)
additional industrial safety regulations.
The Labour Department, which is responsible for the enforcement of labour legislation, is consolid ting and building up its resources to keep pace with the considerable legislation which has been introduced in the past few years since the success of such legislation depends on effective enforcement.