SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 1989
FINES FOR LABOUR OFFENCES GO UP
THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE LEVEL OF FINES IMPOSED BY THE COURTS FOR BREACHES OF VARIOUS LABOUR LAWS IN 1988, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
HE SAID THE AVERAGE FINES IN ALL TYPES OF PROSECUTIONS SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 34 PER CENT FROM $2,348 IN 1987 TO $3,151 LAST YEAR.
REVIEW, THE DEPARTMENT'S PROSECUTIONS DIVISION SUCCESSFULLY BROUGHT 4,019 CASES TO THE COURTS, RESULTING IN A TOTAL FINE OF $12,662,935 BEING IMPOSED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
DURING THE YEAR UNDER
IN COMPARISON, THE FIGURES FOR 1987 WERE 3,861 CASES AND $9,065,600 RESPECTIVELY.
AN ANALYSIS OF THE STATISTICS ALSO SHOWED THAT 1,298 CASES OF CONVICTIONS CONCERNED BREACHES OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS AND 877 RELATED TO THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS.
THE FINES IN THESE TWO CATEGORIES AMOUNTED ΤΟ $5,033,350 AND $5,027,200 RESPECTIVELY.
CASES CONCERNING VIOLATIONS OF THE WELFARE PROVISIONS UNDER THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS, THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN REGULATIONS AND PART IVB OF THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE TOTALLED 1,496 WITH $1,991,435 IN FINES.
ANOTHER 266 OFFENCES WERE RELATED TO THE BOILERS AND PRESSURE RECEIVERS ORDINANCE. THESE CASES RESULTED IN FINES TOTALLING $472,250.
LABOUR
ORDINANCES AND REGULATIONS.
THE REMAINING 82 CASES WERE FOR BREACHES OF EMPLOYMENT, RELATIONS AND EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION FINES TOTALLING $138,700 WERE IMPOSED.
THE SPOKESMAN WELCOMED THE INCREASE IN FINES AS 'HEAVIER FINES WILL MAKE OFFENDERS TAKE SAFETY MORE SERIOUSLY".
HE BELIEVED THAT MOST FACTORY PROPRIETORS AND EMPLOYERS WERE LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS WHO SAW TO THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE WORKERS UNDER THEIR EMPLOY.
"HOWEVER, IT IS THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT SERIOUS AND PERSISTENT OFFENDERS AGAINST THE LABOUR LEGISLATION SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE COURT AND GIVEN THE HEAVY FINES THEY DESERVE," HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN WARNED THAT CONJUNCTION WITH THE OPERATIONAL STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT ACTION AND OFFENDERS TO JUSTICE THIS YEAR.
THE PROSECUTIONS DIVISION, IN DIVISIONS, WOULD CONTINUE TO CONCENTRATE ON BRINGING BLATANT
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