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Monday, August 13, 1973
LABOUR DEPARTMENT HELPS SETTLE DISPUTES
There were 375 labour disputes in Hong Kong during the month of
July - four fewer than in the same month last year.
The Labour Relations Service of the Labour Department helped employers
and workers to settle 281 of the disputes within the month.
The head of the Service, Mr. T.F. Tsui, said today that as a result
of agreements reached at eonciliation meetings conducted by his officers
during the month, 2,302 employees had received a total of $1,072,071,
Of this total, 14.7 per cent was paid by employers as outstanding
wages, payment in lieu of notice, statutory holiday pay and bonuses.
The other 85.3 per cent some $914,000 - was paid as severance
pay and other ex-gratia payments,
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Mr. Tsui said that last month his staff handled 1,461 consultations
and enquiries about labour laws, industrial relations and personnel management,
"We also visited 14 more factories and offices to help employers and
employees set up joint consultative machinery to strengthen communications
between labour and management", he said.
"This sort of machinery gives workers and management a chance to
discuss their problems and iron out their difficulties before they get to the
stage of industrial trouble".
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