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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1976
REDUCTION AND EVENTUAL ABOLITION OF
OVERTIME WORK FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
*****
NEW REGULATIONS TO REDUCE AND EVENTUALLY ABOLISH OVERTIME WORK FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS WERE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. JAN PRICE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) REGULATIONS 1976, MR. PRICE SAID THE PURPOSE OF THESE AMENDMENT REGULATIONS WAS TO REDUCE GRADUALLY OVER THREE YEARS, AND EVENTUALLY ABOLISH, THE MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE HOURS OF OVERTIME FOR YOUNG PERSONS AGED 16 AND 17 EMPLOYED IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS.
HE SAID THE REDUCTIONS WERE TO BEGIN FROM JANUARY 1 FROM THE PRESENT 200 TO 150 HOURS A YEAR AND THEREAFTER AT THE RATE OF 50 HOURS LESS EACH YEAR UNTIL JANUARY 1, 1980, WHEN THOSE YOUNG WORKERS AGED 16 AND 17 WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME OVERTIME RESTRICTIONS AS THOSE AGED 14 AND 15.
MR. PRICE CORRECTED SOME EMPLOYERS WHO HE SAID WRONGLY BELIEVED THAT THE NEW REGULATIONS ALSO AFFECTED ADULT WOMEN OF 18 AND OVER IN INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT. THE NEW REGULATIONS DID NOT APPLY TO THEM.
MR. PRICE EMPHASIZED THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO ABOLISH OVERTIME FOR YOUNG PERSONS WAS BASED NOT ON ECONOMIC, BUT ON SOCIAL CONSIDERATIONS WHICH WERE HELD TO BE OVERRIDING IN THIS CASE.
HE SAID : +COMPETITIVENESS, AND CHEAPNESS OF PRODUCTION SHOULD NOT BE ACHIEVED AT THE EXPENSE OF THE WEAR AND TEAR SO SELDOM MENTIONED -- ON THE BODIES OF YOUNG PEOPLE.+
+WORKERS AGED 16 AND 17 ARE AT AN IMPORTANT STAGE OF THEIR PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. THEY SHOULD BE PERMITTED ADEQUATE LEISURE TO DEVELOP THEIR PERSONALITIES BY FURTHER STUDIES, SPORT, RECREATION AND OTHER INTERESTS. IN OTHER WORDS THEY NEED
LE ISURE IN ORDER TO LIVE, HE ADDED,
MR. PRICE POINTED OUT THAT EMPLOYERS WHO DENIED THESE ASPIRATIONS OF HONG KONG'S INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED YOUNG WORKERS RAN THE RISK OF BEING UNABLE TO RECRUIT SUFFICIENT NUMBERS TO MEET THE IR REQUIREMENTS.
+UNLESS AND UNTIL EMPLOYERS OF BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS OFFER CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF WHITE-COLLAR WORKERS, THE IR INDUSTRIAL VACANCIES WILL NOT BE READILY, OR HAPPILY, FILLED,+ HE SAID.
MR. PRICE ADDED THAT THE ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF THE PHASED PROGRAMME FOR THE ABOLITION OF OVERTIME ON THE YOUNG PEOPLE AFFECTED WOULD BE MINIMAL. THE REDUCTION IN EARNINGS WOULD BE ONLY THREE TO FOUR PER CENT OF THE TOTAL ANNUAL TAKE HOME PAY AND PRESENT INDICATIONS ARE THAT NORMAL WAGE INCREASES WOULD MORE THAN COMPENSATE FOR THIS SMALL REDUCTION.
MR. PRICE THEN SUGGESTED THE DEBATE ON THE MOTION BE ADJOURNED TO ALLOW UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS MORE TIME TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS.
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