TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 1983
REMINDER TO MANUAL WORKERS TAKING UP OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT
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MANUAL WORKERS GOING OVERSEAS FOR EMPLOYMENT WERE REMINDED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT THAT THEY SHOULD ENTER INTO EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS WITH THEIR PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONTRACTS FOR OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE TO PROTECT THEIR OWN INTEREST.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT THE CONTRACTS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR ATTESTATION BEFORE THE WORKERS GO ABROAD. DULY ATTESTED WRITTEN CONTRACTS WOULD NOT ONLY CLEARLY DEFINE THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES, BUT ALSO ENSURE THE REASONABLENESS OF THE TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT.
ALL OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS MUST INCLUDE DETAILS OF PAY, NATURE AND HOURS OF WORK, HOLIDAYS, PAYMENT OF OVERTIME, SICKNESS ALLOWANCE, EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION, PROVISIONS FOR FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION, REPATRIATION ARRANGEMENTS AND PROVISIONS FOR DEPENDANTS.
WITHOUT AN ATTESTED CONTRACT, A WORKER WOULD PUT HIMSELF IN A MOST DISADVANTAGEOUS POSITION IN THE EVENT OF A DISPUTE OVER EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS.
A VERBAL AGREEMENT OR A WRITTEN CONTRACT PRIVATELY ENTERED INTO, WHICH USUALLY DOES NOT ADEQUATELY COVER ALL ASPECTS OF EMPLOYMENT, IS ALWAYS A SUBJECT OF CONTENTION. MOREOVER, THE ABSENCE OF AN ATTESTED CONTRACT WOULD TO A GREAT EXTENT IMPEDE THE DEPARTMENT FROM INTERVENING IN DISPUTES.
+A WORKER SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO WORK IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF A PROPERLY ATTESTED CONTRACT, + HE OBSERVED.
THE SPOKESMAN CALLED ON THOSE WORKERS WISHING TO TAKE UP OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT TO CONSULT THE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OF THE DEPARTMENT ON THE PROPER COURSES TO FOLLOW.
THE SERVICE IS SITUATED ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF SINCERE INSURANCE BUILDING AT 4 HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI.
THE TELEPHONE FOR ENQUIRIES IS 5-281035.
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