le.
2
moving their
operations
out of Hong Kong. In 46 of
disputes over the
these cases there were queries
amount of wages ОГ severance pay due, but ther e was
no evidence to suggest that the employer was unable
to
or pay
These 46 cases
trying to evade payment.
involved a total of 519 workerS and $5. 4 million.
Following conciliation by the Labour Department, 28
of these cases were amicably settled and 443 workers
bar cent
received payments totalling
or 85% of the claimants
$4.6 million.
In two
cases, conciliation
work is
continuing. Ten cases
have been referred to the
Labour
Tribunal for
were
out te
A
adjudication. Six cases turned
enquiries only and led to no claims being
formally lodged.
have not yet
any
#
three
In the remaining A cases the employers
>
are apparently unable to pay. One of these is the
Qualimax case, to which I have already referred. The
other
Å
L
cases involve a total of three garment
workers. Subject to their
their claims being verified, they
will receive payments from the Insolvency Fund.
Sir, I would now like to turn to the
second part of the question. We have recently had a
meeting with the Labour
Department,
the Official
Receiver's Office and the
Legal A id
Department
to
review what legal remedies are
available, i f
a
factory owner moves his Operations out of Hong Kong
without paying wages due to workers.
remedies are:
These legal
>