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EMPLOYMENT
The Labour Department also provides a conciliation service to parties involved in disputes arising from the employment of foreign domestic helpers. During the year, 473 claims, 801 consultations and 48 508 enquiries relating to the employment of such helpers were handled.
Employment Agencies
The Employment Ordinance and the Employment Agency Regulations made under the ordinance govern the licensing and operation of employment agencies in Hong Kong. In 1988, the Labour Department issued 357 licences to employment agencies handling employment of persons within Hong Kong and 90 licences to agencies dealing with employment of persons outside Hong Kong. For various reasons, five licences were revoked or refused renewal in 1988.
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Employment Outside Hong Kong
The Contracts for Employment Outside Hong Kong-Ordinance requires employment contracts entered into in Hong Kong by manual workers who take up employment outside Hong Kong to be attested by the Commissioner for Labour before the departure of the workers from Hong Kong. An employer or his agent who fails to comply with the provision is liable on conviction to a fine of $50,000. During the year, 218 fresh contracts were attested, compared with 255 in 1987.
Industrial Safety
The Factory Inspectorate of the Labour Department is responsible for enforcing the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and its subsidiary regulations. These regulations provide for the safety and health of workers in factories, on building and engineering construction sites and in other industrial undertakings. Advice and assistance are given to management on various safety and health aspects, including the adoption of safe working practices and layout of new factories to achieve a better working environment. The inspectorate also investigates industrial accidents and dangerous occurrences.
The Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Dangerous Substances) Regulations were approved by the Legislative Council in June. These regulations, which came into operation in December, provide that the proprietor of a specified industrial undertaking is responsible for labelling in a prescribed manner dangerous substances which are used, handled or stored in his workplace; providing his employees with information on the hazards and the precautions necessary in handling these substances; providing adequate safety instructions, training and suitable protective clothing and equipment to employees exposed to such substances; and ensuring that the clothing and equipment are properly used. The regula- tions also require employees to comply with the safety instructions and to take other precautions.
Throughout the year, the Factory Inspectorate's Industrial Safety Training Centre conducted safety training courses for workers, supervisors and managers from various industries. Safety talks were organised for teachers and students of technical institutes. Special safety courses were arranged for potential summer-job seekers before the summer school holidays commenced. As in the past, the centre gave talks on safety management to business students in post-secondary institutions. In collaboration with the Hong Kong Polytechnic, the centre continued to organise two evening and one part-time day-release courses leading to the award of a Certificate of Proficiency in Industrial Safety and two evening courses leading to the award of a Certificate of Proficiency in Advanced Industrial Safety. The department also continued to assist the Construction Industry Training
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