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EMPLOYMENT
those working for the better employers in the private sector, may have shorter working hours, but usually not less than seven hours per day. Restrictions on the hours of work for women, first introduced in January 1959, have resulted in a decrease in the number of hours worked by men employed alongside women in the same concern.
By December 31, 1973, a total of 35 cotton spinning and silk weaving mills had introduced a system of three eight-hour daily shifts. Cotton weaving mills were on either two or three shifts, and it was estimated that 45,834 men and 52,826 women were working eight hours a day. A rest period of one hour a day is customary through- out industry.
The Employment (Amendment) (No 2) Ordinance 1973 extended the provisions for sickness allowance and holidays with pay to all manual workers irrespective of earnings and to non-manual employees earning not more than $1,500 a month. This means that more than one million employees in practically all trades and industries are now entitled to holidays with pay and sickness allowance.
The cumulative entitlement to paid sickness days has been increased from 12 days in one year to 24 days over two years. To qualify for a paid sickness allowance an employee must first work for three months on a continuous contract of employment.
The amended ordinance provides for six statutory holidays to be granted by the employer, in addition to the four monthly rest-days under the Employment Ordinance and weekly rest-days applicable to women and young persons under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Regulations. The six statutory holidays are the Lunar New Year's Day, the second day of Lunar New Year, Ching Ming Festival, Tuen Ng (Dragon Boat) Festival, the day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival and the first day of January. An employee must have three months continuous service prior to a statutory holiday to qualify for payment on that day.
The new legislation helps bridge the gap in statutory benefits between the in- dustrial and non-industrial sectors, and represents another step forward in social legislation.
Trade Unions
With the exception of a small neutral and independent segment, most employees' unions are either affiliated to, or associated with, one of two local federations which are registered as societies and bear allegiance to opposing political groups. Divided politically, and further separated by differences in dialect, the number of unions has grown beyond practical needs, and divergent loyalties have prevented those with com- mon interests from amalgamating into effective organisations.
The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions is a left-wing organisation. Most of the members of its 66 affiliated unions are concentrated in shipyards, textile mills, and public utilities. A further 23 unions, nominally independent, are friendly towards the federation and participate in its activities. The Hong Kong and Kowloon Trades Union Council has right-wing sympathies. Most of the members of its 85 affiliated unions and of the 10 nominally independent unions which generally support the