EMPLOYMENT
120
The Labour Department promotes harmonious labour-management relations through a variety of activities such as promotional visits and talks to individual establishments, employers' associations and employees' trade unions; training courses, workshops, seminars and exhibitions. It also publishes newsletters, information leaflets and pamphlets on a wide range of labour matters.
The Labour Tribunal
The Labour Tribunal is part of the Judiciary and provides a quick, inexpensive and informal method of adjudicating various types of disputes between employees and employers which are not within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board.
In 1996, it heard 7016 cases involving employees as claimants and a further 430 cases initiated by employers. The presiding officers awarded more than $129 million. Of these cases, 88.2 per cent were referred by the Labour Relations Division of the Labour Department after unsuccessful conciliation attempts.
Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board
The Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board adjudicates claims under the Employment Ordinance and in accordance with individual employment contracts. All employment claims involving not more than five claimants for a sum of money not exceeding $5,000 per claimant fall within the jurisdiction of the board.
During the year, the board heard 1 172 cases. Of these, 1 019 cases were filed by employees and 153 by employers. The board awarded a total of about $2.53 million on these claims.
Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund
The Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund is financed by an annual levy of $250 on each business registration certificate. Employees who are owed wages and other employment termination benefits by their insolvent employers may apply to the fund for ex gratia payment.
During the year, the fund's coverage was substantially improved. Previously, it covered wages not exceeding $18,000 accrued during a period of four months preceding the date of application; wages in lieu of notice for termination of up to $6,000 or one month's wages, whichever was less; and severance payment up to $24,000, plus 50 per cent of any entitlement in excess of $24,000. In February, the respective payment limits were increased from $18,000 to $36,000, $6,000 to $22,500 and $24,000 to $36,000. In December, the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Ordinance was amended to extend the period for employees to apply for ex gratia payment from four to six months, and to count the four-month coverage period of arrears of wages from the last day of service instead of from the date of application. The fund received 8 372 applications and paid out a total of $180.9 million to 7 285 applicants in 1996.
Finding Employment
The Employment Services Division of the Labour Department provides free recruitment assistance to employers and placement service to job-seekers. In February 1996, the division strengthened its employment services through extending