EMPLOYMENT
empowered to hear and determine all employment claims involving not more than 10 claimants for a sum of money not exceeding $8,000 per claimant.
During the year, the board heard 1 535 cases and made awards amounting to $3.94 million.
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.
The fund covers arrears of wages not exceeding $36,000 accrued during a period of four months preceding the applicant's last day of service; wages in lieu of notice for termination of up to $22,500 or one month's wages, whichever is less; and severance payment up to $36,000, plus 50 per cent of any entitlement in excess of $36,000. The fund received 10 550 applications and paid out a total of $236.5 million to 9 003 applicants in 1997.
Finding Employment
The Employment Services Division of the Labour Department provides free recruitment assistance to employers and placement service to job-seekers.
Through the Job Matching Programme, the division provided intensive job- matching and counselling services to unemployed job-seekers. The division continued to operate the Outreaching Placement Service which offered immediate employment assistance to workers affected by major retrenchments. Its Special Placement Team also provided assistance to local construction workers seeking work in contracts under the New Airport and Related Projects. All these programmes were well received by job-seekers and employers. In order to publicise its employment services, the division organised a series of promotional activities including job bazaars, exhibitions and recruitment seminars.
In September 1997, the Labour Department set up its first Employment and Guidance Centre for New Arrivals to provide a comprehensive range of employment and guidance services tailor-made for new arrivals.
During the year, 117 424 job-seekers registered with the division while employers reported 128 981 vacancies. The division made 173 259 job referrals and placed 26 162 persons in employment.
Employees Retraining Scheme
The Employees Retraining Board was set up in 1992 to provide retraining for local employees to cope with structural changes in the economy. Since January 1997, the ambit of the scheme has been extended to include new arrivals. The board comprises representatives from the government, employers, employees, training institutions and manpower planning practitioners.
Training is delivered through a network of approved training bodies, with funding support for approved courses from the Employees Retraining Fund. The government injected $300 million when the fund was set up. Its regular income comes from a levy charged on employers employing imported workers under the labour importation
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