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TUESDAY, AUGINDA 12, 1975
THE SECOND MAJOR TASK OF THE LRS OFFICERS WAS TO HELP SETTLE LABOUR DISPUTES. LAST YEAR THEY DEALT WITH 5,870 DISPUTES OF VARIOUS TYPES.
MOST OF THE MAJOR DISPUTES WERE SETTLED THROUGH CONCILIATION EFFORTS BY THE LAS OFFICERS. SOME OF THE SMALLER AND THE MINOR DISPUTES WERE REFERRED TO EITHER THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL, OR THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT, DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE DISPUTES.
DURING THE YEAR THE LRS HAD ASSISTED 11,354 WORKERS TO OBTAIN
· A TOTAL OF NEARLY $10 MILLION FOR ARREARS OF WAGES AND SEVERANCE PAY.
ANOTHER DAILY ROUTINE OF THE LRS WAS TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OVER MATTERS SUCH AS MONTHLY REST DAYS, STATUTORY HOLIDAYS, MATERNITY LEAVE, SICK ALLOWANCE AND SEVERANCE PAY. IN CASES OF VIOLATION OF THE REGULATIONS, COMPENSATION WAS REQUIRED, AND LEGAL ACTION WAS TAKEN AGAINST THOSE WHO IGNORED WARNINGS TO MAKE COMPENSATION PAYMENTS.
THE FOURTH MAJOR TASK OF THE LRS WAS TO ANSWER ENQUIRIES AND OFFER ADVICE. THIS SERVICE WAS EXTREMELY POPULAR AMONG BOTH WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS. THE LRS DEALT WITH 23,291 ENQUIRIES IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR, COVERING PERSONNEL HANAGEMENT, LADOUR LAWS, AND INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP LABOUR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS.
BECAUSE OF ITS POPULARITY, THIS SERVICE HAD BEEN EXTENDED TO OUTSIDE OFFICE HOURS, WHEN TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES COULD BE MADE TO SENIOR LABOUR RELATIONS OFFICERS.
MR. TSUI SAID THAT IN HONG KONG'S CURRENT COMPLEX SITUATION, THE WORK OF LRS OFFICERS WAS HEAVY, BUT INTERESTING AND REWARDING.
+THEY ARE USED TO 'MARATHON NEGOTIATION MEETINGS, HE SAID. +AND THEY ALWAYS MAINTAIN A JUST STAND IN ALL CONCILIATION ATTEMPTS TO SETTLE LABOUR DISPUTES.+
MR. TSUI SAID HE WAS SURE THAT THE NEW LABOUR RELATIONS ORDINANCE, ENFORCED FROM AUGUST 1, WOULD CONTRIBUTE FURTHER TOWARDS THE PROMOTION OF HARMONIOUS LABOUR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS IN HONG KONG, AND MAKE THE WORK OF THE LRS MORE EFFECTIVE.
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