CHAPTER 7
Employment
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MANPOWER is Hong Kong's most treasured asset. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government aims to ensure that there is a dynamic, well-motivated, adaptable and continuously upgraded workforce contributing to Hong Kong's economic competitiveness. At a time of high unemployment, the Government's prime aim is to provide a comprehensive and effective employment service to help the unemployed re-enter the workforce and minimise the duration of unemployment. At the same time, the Government also recognises the need to promote good employer and employee relations, enhance the rights and benefits of employees in a way which is commensurate with Hong Kong's socio-economic development, and protect their safety and health at work.
In June 1998, the Government set up a Task Force on Employment, led by the Financial Secretary, to look into the problem of local unemployment and to explore ways and
means of facilitating job creation. The Task Force comprises representatives from the business and employee sectors, academia and training institutions as well as senior government officials. Since its establishment, it has advanced government projects, strengthened employment services, enhanced vocational training and employees' retraining and tightened measures to combat illegal employment. About 90 000 job opportunities were created between June 1998 and September 1999 as a result of the Government's key policy initiatives, infrastructural and public works projects. About 47 111 people were placed in jobs through the Local Employment Service of the Labour Department in 1999. In addition, the Employees Retraining Board has offered over 77 000 training places in 1999, representing an increase of 24 per cent over that of 1998.
safety
The Government will introduce new legislation into the Legislative Council in the 1999-2000 session as part of its ongoing effort to enhance the occupational safety and health standards in Hong Kong. This includes the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Safety Management) Regulation on implementing a management system in designated industrial undertakings employing 50 or more workers; the Occupational Safety and Health (Display Screen Equipment) Regulation on protecting the safety and health of habitual users of display screen equipment; and the Occupational Safety and Health (Personal Protective Equipment) Regulation on the provision and use of personal protective equipment.
Labour Market
In the third quarter of 1999, the labour force grew by 2.5 per cent over the corresponding period of 1998. Hong Kong's labour force stood at 3.5 million, of whom 60.5 per cent were male and 39.5 per cent were female. The seasonally adjusted