The Labour Office and Its work.
The department which is principally concerned with the working conditions in industry in the Colony is the Labour Office, the head of department being the Commissioner of Labour. Although the department has undergone considerable expansion since its institution a few years ago additional staff are required in order to keep pace with the continually expand- ing administrative and legislative labour field and in the field of industrial health. In addition to the work done in connection with the registration and inspection of factories, the department is constantly engaged in the conciliation and settle- ment of trade disputes and minor arguments about wages (the latter averaging 30 a month); the investigation of working conditions of, for instance, women and children; enquiries regarding wages; advising trade unions on matters of organisa- tion and finance; and, in co-operation with the legal department, the constant review of labour legislation to meet local needs and to attain accepted international standards. During the current year consideration of the large number of conventions adopted at post-war International Labour Conferences, including those far-reaching ones adopted at the Seattle Maritime Conference in 1946, and their possible implementation in Hong Kong has been a constant concern of the department.
Labour Advisory Board.
In labour matters generally and particularly with regard to legislative proposals affecting labour, the Government is assisted by a Labour Advisory Board. The Board is constituted on a tripartite basis. The Labour Commissioner is ex-officio Chairman and there are nine members representing the interests of European Employers, Chinese Employers and Chinese Labour respectively.
Legislation.
The aim of labour legislation in Hong Kong is to imple- ment as far as practicable the standards of the International Labour Code and to give effect to al hoc measures which necessary to meet specific local needs.
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international labour
There is legislation to give effect to conventions on the minimum age of employment in industry and at sea, on the night work of women and young persons, on underground work for women, on medical examinations of young persons before employment at sea, on minimum-wage
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