12
-
Monday, May 15, 1972
WORKERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT LABOUR LEGISLATION
Education To Overcome Ignorance Of The Law
Mr. Paul Tsui, Commissioner of Labour, called upon workers to know
about labour legislation in order to understand the socio-economic environment
in which they live.
This was said today (May 15) in his opening address at a seminar
on Workers' Education and Trade Union Leadership Training organized by
the Department of Extra-Mural Studies, University of Hong Kong.
He said, "Whatever action we take should be within the bounds of
the legislative framework. If one feels that the legislation does not
adequately protect his interests, then he can try to change and improve it
by constitutional means."
Mr. Tsui said, "Many workers have failed to claim what is theirs
by statutory right because they are not aware of that right."
Citing a recent case in which workers in a factory had not been
given a holiday pay for the past two years, though they were qualified and
therefore entitled to it, Mr. Tsui said, "Unless the workers bring it to the
notice of the Labour Department, it is not possible for the Labour Department
to help each worker get his due."
Referring to the inter-relationship between labour and management,
Mr. Tsui said, "Trade unions leadership training can help develop well-organized
trade unions to conduct effective bargaining which will result in collective
agreements covering such items as wages, including time and piece rates, and
incentive payments, hours of work, rest periods, shift work and over-time,
holidays, sick leave, discipline and retirement gratuities.
/In