26.
Lage 40 of 2
CRE T
Page 40
These agreed programmes must include a
programme of labour legislation. In the absence of a
normal trades union movement there is a particular
obligation on the Hong Kong Government to safeguard the
position of wage earners by providing progressive labour
legislation, with a strong Commissioner of Labour's
office and effective conciliation and factory inspectorate
services. The objective should be to achieve conditions
comparable to the best Asian equivalent, (e.g. Singapore)
within five years.
This should include better provision
for rest days and statutory holidays and the introduction
of compulsory holidays with pay, the prohibition of
employment of people under 15 years of age (as soon as
there are assisted secondary school places for all by
1980), wider coverage by safety regulations, and improved
sickness benefit and redundancy payments. The absence
of statutory hours of work or provision for overtime
are also particular subjects of criticism. The programme
must also ensure steady progress in the application of
I.L.O. conventions.
27.
Significant progress has been made in labour
But it is essential to
legislation in recent years.
be satisfied that this will continue along the lines and
within the time-scale suggested above, because progress
in trades unionism as it is known in the United Kingdom
is most unlikely. The trades union movement is small,
Such
politically orientated and heavily fragmentedge 4004203
Page 40
Page 40
membership as in independent of the main groups of
1