EMPLOYMENT
112
To promote careers education, the service produces written and audio-visual resource materials including careers pamphlets, job sheets, newsletters, slide presentations and films. These materials are available to the public for reading and viewing free of charge.
The service operates four careers information centres, each equipped with a reference library, an audio-visual unit with sound-on-slides, cassette tapes and videos, and an enquiry service on employment and training opportunities. In 1991, the centres received 24 632 visitors and handled 35 171 enquiries.
Foreign Workers
The Immigration Department is responsible for controlling the entry of foreign workers for employment in Hong Kong. Generally speaking, foreigners who have special skills or experience not readily available in Hong Kong are allowed entry. Those who are able to contribute substantially to the economic well-being of Hong Kong, such as bankers and entrepreneurs and other persons whose activities are likely to stimulate local employment, are also considered for entry. In all cases, normal immigration requirements must be met. The Immigration Department considers special cases in consultation with the Labour Department and other expert departments.
During the year, 12 867 professionals and other persons with technical expertise or administrative and managerial skills from over 35 countries were admitted for em- -ployment.
To meet the persistent shortage of labour in the local market, it was decided in May 1990 to allow local employers to recruit from outside Hong Kong 2 700 skilled workers at the technician, craftsman and supervisory levels, 10 000 semi-skilled workers at the experienced operative level and 2 000 construction workers to facilitate the construction of the new airport and related projects.
As a result, 4 524 applications involving 57 558 workers were received. After vetting, 12 389 workers were found eligible for entry.
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 the helper's maintenance in Hong Kong and repatriation to his or her country of origin. The demand for foreign domestic helpers has increased steadily. In 1991, there were 84 619 foreign domestic helpers, representing an increase of 20.3 per cent when compared with 70 335 in 1990. About 89.4 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 66 645 employment contracts in 1991.
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 39 699 telephone enquiries, 1 293 written enquiries and 1 481 consultations in person in 1991. It also conducted 908 conciliation meetings between foreign domestic helpers and their employers.