REVIEW
5
progress has been widely recognised, and both real wages and work- ing conditions generally have continued to improve. Government's particular contribution has been two-fold: first, through the much extended advisory services of the Labour Department; and secondly, through the continued programme of labour legislation.
On January 1, 1970 the law on workmen's compensation was extended to cover domestic servants and agricultural workers, as well as non-manual workers earning up to $1,500 a month. At the same time the sums payable on death or permanent incapacity were substantially increased. The level of payments during periods of temporary incapacity were also increased, and these were made payable in addition to any lump sums for death or permanent incapacity.
In February the Employment Ordinance was amended to enable manual workers and all other employees earning less than $1,500 a month to take four voluntary rest days a month, these being additional to the six statutory holidays each year.
Women form a substantial part of Hong Kong's labour force and under the fourth stage of a progressive reduction of the hours of work for women and young persons employed in industry which began on December 1, 1970 their standard hours of work were reduced to eight hours 20 minutes a day and 50 hours a week. The final stage introducing an eight-hour day and a 48-hour week will start in December, 1971. Under new legislation women workers are also ensured a set period of maternity leave during which they may not be dismissed from their employment. Legislation has also been introduced laying down minimum ages for the employment of young persons on premises licensed to sell liquor. One of the provisions makes it an offence to employ any female under the age of 18 in a bar or other licensed premise after 8 p.m.
To protect further the wages of employees, legislation has been enacted to deal with any employer who attempts to abscond with- out paying his workers, and it has been made an offence for any person to employ workers unless he has reasonable grounds to believe that he will be able to pay all wages due to them. Workers' wages have also been given a higher degree of priority over other liabilities in winding-up and bankruptcy proceedings.