EMPLOYMENT
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equipment. In addition, a number of mobile exhibitions on electrical safety were held at various construction sites. Four new safety posters were also produced for distribu- tion to industry.
Finding Employment
The local employment service operates a free placement service from five offices. During the year the service helped 5,747 workers find employment.
In 1973 a special register was established to offer employment assistance to graduates of local universities as well as Hong Kong graduates from overseas univer- sities and post-secondary colleges seeking to return to Hong Kong for employment. In 1976 the service successfully placed 62 graduates in employment.
The Contracts for Overseas Employment Ordinance controls contracts of em- ployment entered into in Hong Kong between overseas employers or their duly authorised representatives and all manual workers-including domestic servants (with the exception of certain specific categories)-proceeding overseas for employment. Such contracts have to be presented to the Commissioner for Labour for attestation before workers depart from Hong Kong. During the year 490 contracts were attested, compared with 602 in the previous year.
Permission to work in Britain is given by the United Kingdom Department of Employment. Work permits are issued to applicants through the Hong Kong Immigra- tion Department.
Since September 1975 administrative measures have been introduced to regulate and protect the employment of domestic helpers recruited from overseas under valid contracts of employment which have to be attested by the Labour Department. During the year 1,917 such employment contracts were attested.
Under the Employment Ordinance, all profit-making employment agencies- unless in an excluded class-are required to obtain a licence before starting operation. In 1976 the Labour Department issued 28 licences to local employment agencies and nine to those catering for employment overseas.
The youth employment advisory service provides careers information to students and young people through the preparation and regular revision of careers pamphlets and occupations leaflets. It has so far produced 36 pamphlets and 50 occupations leaflets, and additional ones are under preparation. A monthly 'Careers Newsletter' is also produced and distributed to secondary schools, youth centres and other in- terested organisations. During the year the service completed the preparation of a series of slide presentations on careers. The slides are used in seminars and exhibi- tions and have proved popular with students and young people.
In 1976 officers of the service gave 349 careers talks in 88 schools and 21 youth centres to some 22,000 students and youngsters. The service also organised seven seminars and participated in four others which provided careers information to students, teachers, parents and interested individuals.