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EMPLOYMENT
Kwun Tong and Tsuen Wan was considerably increased during the year. Further progress has been made in the proposal to establish a Summary Civil Court which will be presided over by an officer of the Judiciary. When established this court will settle expeditiously employees' claims of right to money when those rights arise from contracts of employment or certain statutes.
By the end of the year the Labour Department had recorded the existence of 91 formal joint consultative councils and committees set up by 56 establishments. Most were working smoothly and achieving the object of bringing management and employees together to improve relationships and allow each to benefit from the ex- perience of the other. Similar committees established in certain government departments discussed a wide range of administrative, welfare and organisational problems. Two hundred and forty special visits were made during the year to employers who have shown posi- tive interest in introducing joint consultation. Two guides, 'Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures' and 'A Concise Guide to the Employ- ment Ordinance' were produced during the year and free copies in English and Chinese were made available to employers and em- ployees in commerce, industry and services. A comprehensive guide to the Employment Ordinance has also been prepared and is now in print.
The continuing shortage of labour resulted in wage demands being made by employees in the traditional trades, the manufactur- ing industries, the public utility companies and government services. Altogether, 35 unions have made proposals for wage increases.
The factory inspectorate of the department's Industry Division is responsible, under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, for the safety of workers in factories and industrial undertakings. Advice and assistance were given to management on ways and means of guarding dangerous parts of machinery, adopting safe working practices, and the general layout of factories to achieve safe working conditions.
The Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Woodworking Ma- chinery) Regulations 1971 came into operation on November 1. They provide for safety measures in the use of woodworking machinery. A guide to the regulations is being prepared and copies will be distributed to employers and workers in the trade.
During the year, the Industrial Safety Training Centre moved into larger premises. Its scope and activities continued to expand, with officers of its staff giving lectures to workers and students at technical and vocational training centres. The centre also helps to