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EMPLOYMENT
16,059 factories were mounted during the year. A total of 332 cases involving 391 children were brought before the courts.
Young people aged 14 and 15 are only allowed to work eight hours a day with no overtime employment. Women and young people are prohibited from working at night or underground. Since 1970, a few large factories-mostly engaged in cotton spinning have been granted special permission to employ women at night subject to stringent conditions. This concession is reviewed annually.
There are no legal restrictions on hours of work for men although the regulations provide for a pre-employment medical examination of men employed underground or in tunnelling operations, and for periodical medical examinations of men under the age of 21 employed underground. Generally, men employed in industry work between eight and nine hours a day. Government employees and those working for the better employers in the private sector may work shorter hours but usually not less than seven hours a day. Restrictions on the hours of work for women and young people in industry have resulted in a decrease in the number of hours worked by men employed alongside women and young people in the same concern.
The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 1976 provides all manual workers and all non-manual workers earning not more than $2,000 a month with four extra statutory holidays in addition to the existing six with effect from January 1, 1977.
The Employment (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance 1976 provides for four addi- tional rest days a year with effect from January 2, 1977 by requiring employers to give workers one rest day a week instead of four rest days a month.
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. Due to political differences, the number of unions has grown beyond practical needs, and divergent loyalties have prevented those with common interests from amalgamating into effective organisations.
The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions is a left-wing organisation. Most of the members of its 67 affiliated unions are concentrated in shipyards, textile mills and public utilities. A further 29 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 84 affiliated unions, and of the nine nominally independent unions which generally support the Trades Union Council, are employed in the catering and building trades. The Trades Union Council is affiliated to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions.
There are 122 independent unions, some of which continue to make improve- ments in their internal administration and in the services offered to their members.
The legal requirements regarding the registration and control of trade unions are specified in the Trade Unions Ordinance which is administered by the Registrar of Trade Unions.
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