EMPLOYMENT
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technician, craftsman and supervisory levels, 10 000 workers at the experienced operative level and initially 2 000 construction workers to facilitate the construction of the new airport and related projects.
Since the new scheme was announced in July 1990, 4 524 applications involving 57 558 workers were received. After vetting 12 389 workers were found eligible for entry under the scheme.
Foreign Domestic Helpers
The entry of foreign domestic helpers is subject to the condition that the employer is a bona fide resident of Hong Kong who can provide suitable accommodation to the helper and who is willing to undertake his or her maintenance in Hong Kong and repatriation to the country of origin. The demand for foreign domestic helpers has increased steadily. In 1990, there were 70 335 foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong, compared with 57 971 in 1989, representing an increase of 21.3 per cent. About 90.5 per cent of these domestic helpers are citizens of the Philippines.
Attestation of Employment Contracts for Foreign Domestic Helpers
For the purpose of controlling and protecting the employment conditions of foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong, the Foreign Domestic Helpers Service of the Labour Department attested to 53 740 employment contracts in 1990.
Frequently consulted by the public on application procedures for the employment of foreign domestic helpers and interpretation on the terms of employment contracts, the service handled 37 400 telephone enquiries, 746 written enquiries and 1 243 consultations in person in 1990. It also conciliated in 729 disputes arising from the employment of foreign domestic helpers.
Employment Agencies
The Employment Agencies Administration of the Labour Department is responsible for administering Part XII of the Employment Ordinance and the Employment Agency Regulations in controlling the licensing and operation of employment agencies in Hong Kong. An amendment to the Employment Ordinance in June 1990 brought all employment agencies, including 'headhunting' companies under control. Subsequently, the licences issued in the year were increased to 710.
Employment Outside Hong Kong
The External Employment Service is responsible for enforcing the Contracts for Em- ployment Outside Hong Kong Ordinance. Under the ordinance, all such contracts must be attested by the Commissioner for Labour before a manual worker leaves Hong Kong. Any breach of the ordinance by an employer or his agent is liable to a fine of $50,000 on conviction. During the year, the service attested 205 new contracts under the ordinance.
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, building and engineering construction sites and other industrial undertakings. Advice and assistance are