130 Employment
Ordinance. It also produces a wide range of free publications for the public. Information is also disseminated through the department's website and the media.
The department promotes tripartite dialogue at the industry level by setting up. committees comprising employers, employees and labour officials. The department has set up nine tripartite committees to deal with matters concerning the catering, construction, theatre, logistics, property management, printing, hotel and tourism, cement and concrete, and retail industries.
At the enterprise level, the department promotes good labour management practices and effective communication. Eighteen human resources managers' clubs have been established. During the year, experience-sharing sessions and briefings were organised for members.
In order to assist employees in maintaining a balance between work and family responsibilities, the department has been actively promoting family-friendly employment practices (FFEP) through seminars, exhibitions, etc. During the year, 20 newspaper supplements carried real-life stories on the implementation of FFEP and other good people-management measures. The purpose of the supplements was to encourage wider adoption of family-friendly practices in the workplace.
Trade Unions
The Registry of Trade Unions administers the Trade Unions Ordinance and promotes good and responsible trade union management. Once registered, a trade union becomes a body corporate and enjoys immunity from certain civil suits.
In 2008, 28 new unions were registered, bringing the number of registered trade unions to 796 (comprising 752 employee unions, 19 employers' associations and 25 organisations comprising employees and employers). There are also four registered trade union federations. Declared membership of employee unions over the past five years has remained around 670 000. The trade union participation rate was around 21 per cent over the same period.
About half of the employee unions are affiliated to four major labour organisations registered under the Societies Ordinance. They are the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (178 unions), the Hong Kong and Kowloon Trades Union Council (32 unions), the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (77 unions), and the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions (64 unions).
Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund
The Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund provides ex gratia payment to employees who are owed wages and other termination benefits by insolvent employers. Its funds are from an annual levy imposed on business registration certificates. The levy was reduced from $600 to $450 in March. 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 of termination of employment of up to $22,500 or one month's wages, whichever is less; and severance payment of up to $50,000 plus 50 per cent of any entitlement in excess of $50,000.