EMPLOYMENT
Occupational Safety and Health Council
The Occupational Safety and Health Council, established by statute in 1988, is financed primarily by a levy on employees' compensation premiums. It consists of a chairman, a vice-chairman and 18 members, all of whom are appointed by the Governor. Its membership is drawn from employers and employees, academic and professional fields, and from the government.
The council aims to promote a safer and healthier working environment through programmed activities for education and training, promotion of the use of modern technology, dissemination of technical knowledge, provision of consultancy services, and encouragement of co-operation and communication among government and non- government bodies having such common goals.
Under the council are five functional committees and seven industry-based safety and health committees. The five functional committees deal with publicity, staffing, finance, research and general matters. The seven industry-based committees cover the construction, textiles, plastics, shipbuilding and shiprepairing, metalware, electronics and catering industries. The council plans to establish more such committees in future to help promote higher standards of safety and health at work in specific industries and trades.
The council and its committees are serviced by its own staff which has an establishment of 14. Since inception, it has organised a series of promotional activities including a logo design competition, an occupational safety and health quiz, exhibitions, a six-week radio programme and other industrial-oriented programmes. Six indicator boards with industrial accident statistics have been erected at various locations. A well-stocked library with publications on occupational safety and health and data-based information is situated in the council office. This library and other training facilities are open to the public.
Employees' Compensation
The Labour Department administers the Employees' Compensation Ordinance and the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance. The department ensures that injured em- ployees and dependants of deceased employees covered by the Employees' Compensation Ordinance obtain compensation from their employers in respect of injuries or deaths caused by accidents arising out of and in the course of employment, or by occupational diseases. It also ensures that persons covered by the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance obtain compensation as soon as possible from the Pneumoconiosis Com- pensation Fund which is financed by a levy imposed on the construction and quarry industries.
Under the two-tier Employees' Compensation Assessment Board system, employees with work-related injuries which are likely to result in permanent incapacity are assessed by the boards at eight major hospitals in Hong Kong. In 1989, Ordinary Assessment Boards convened 549 sessions and completed assessment of 18 135 cases referred to them by the Commissioner for Labour and 1 149 review cases. Special Assessment Boards convened five sessions and completed assessment of three cases referred to them by the Ordinary Assessment Boards and two review cases.
From January 1, 1989, the authority of the Commissioner for Labour to assess compensation payable in cases with loss of earning capacity has been extended to those where such loss is assessed at not more than five per cent.
Following a review of the compensation level under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance and the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance, the level of compensation
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