ཙྪཱ ས 1ས “ '''
15.
There have been signs recently that left-wing unions
are beginning to take more interest in labour matters and are more
willing to express their views to the Government. Another factor
which may have a positive effect on the participation of the left-wing
workers' unions in labour matters is the likelihood of China joining
the ILC in 1981.
16.
Regarding workers' spokesmen in the Councils, the Rev. the Hon. P.T. McGovern was appointed an Unofficial member of ExCo with effect from 1 September 1980, in additior to his appointment to the Legislative Council. On the same date, r CHAN Kam-chuen, who is a member of a neutral trade union (Cable and Wireless Ltd Hong Kong Non-Expatriate Staff Association) and a member of the Labour Advisory. Board sive 1977, was appointed an Unofficial member of the Legislative
Council:
Serial 11
A yearly tripartite discussion
on wages and labour policy
17.
The proposal is neither practical nor desirable for Hong Kong because of the fragmentation of workers' unions. It is also unlikely that the left-wing unions would be prepared to participate in any formal tripartive discussions on wages and labour policy.
18.
There is at least one Western European country
Sweden
which seems to have encountered difficulties in respect of institutionalised tripartite discussions.
Serial 12
A statutory minimum wage
19.
(a) "A significant proportion of lower grade
workers falling below the poverty line ""
1
Professor Turner has suggested that about 5% - 10%
of the work force receive wages below the poverty line by public assistance standards. Although he has allowed for more than one wage-earner in an average household, he does not appear to have taken into account that in suon a nɔusenold, there is likely to be both high and low wage-earners, pooling their resources to support the family.
Looking, solely at
the individual's earning capacity tends to give