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FRIDAY, JULY 13, 1990
LABOUR IMPORTATION APPLICATIONS TO START NEXT WEEK
LABOUR
THE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL STEERING GROUP ON IMPORTATION OF HAS FINALISED THE IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMME FOR TWO SCHEMES UNDER WHICH 2,700 SKILLED WORKERS AND 10,000 EXPERIENCED OPERATIVES CAN BR IMPORTED.
ANNOUNCING DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR K.Y. YEUNG SAID APPLICATIONS MAY BE LODGED WITH THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION FROM NEXT MONDAY (JULY 16).
"HOWEVER, THE SCHEME TO IMPORT 2,000 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS FOR THE NEW AIRPORT AND RELATED PROJECTS WILL NOT COMMENCE YET. DETAILS WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER IN THE YEAR, HE SAID.
CLOSELY
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STRESSING THAT THE STEERING GROUP WHICH HE CHAIRS WILL MONITOR THE SCHEMES' IMPLEMENTATION TO ENSURE EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION, MR YEUNG ADDED THAT ADEQUATE STEPS WOULD BE TAKEN TO PREVENT UNSCRUPULOUS EMPLOYERS FROM EXPLOITING IMPORTED WORKERS.
OF
THE
MAY FOR
"AS A SAFEGUARD, WE HAVE AMENDED THE STANDARD CONTRACT EMPLOYMENT BY STIPULATING THAT ACCOMMODATION MUST BE PROVIDED BY EMPLOYER TO CERTAIN STANDARDS AND BY EMPHASISING THAT EMPLOYERS NOT MAKE DEDUCTIONS FROM THE WAGES OF THEIR EMPLOYEES, EXCEPT THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES ALLOWED UNDER SECTION 32 OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, HE SAID.
THE STANDARD CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT FOR A PERIOD NOT EXCEEDING TWO YEARS WILL ALSO SPECIFY THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS UNDER HONG KONG LABOUR LAWS AND WILL COVER AREAS SUCH AS WAGES, HOLIDAYS, MEDICAL BENEFIT AND FREE PASSAGE.
ADDRESSING CONCERN OVER THE POSSIBILITY OF LOW-WAGE COMPETITION FOR LOCAL WORKERS, MR YEUNG SAID THE PUBLICATION OF MEDIAN WAGES IN RESPECT OF TECHNICIANS, CRAFTSMEN, SUPERVISORS AND EXPERIENCED OPERATIVES WOULD GIVE HONG KONG WORKERS AN ASSURANCE THAT THEY WOULD COME UNDER NO SUCH THREAT.
"I WOULD LIKE ΤΟ REITERATE THAT ONLY THOSE APPLICATIONS OFFERING WAGES AT OR ABOVE THE MEDIAN LEVEL WILL BE CONSIDERED.
MOREOVER, BEFORE AN APPLICATION IS PROCESSED, THE EMPLOYER WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE THAT HE HAS FAILED TO RECRUIT LOCALLY AT MARKET WAGES.
"HE CAN EITHER ADVERTISE VACANCIES IN NEWSPAPERS OR VACANCIES WITH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
REGISTER
"VALID APPLICATIONS WILL THEN BE CONSIDERED IN AN ORDER OF PRIORITY THAT HAS REGARD TO RECENT VACANCY RATES AND RATES OF WAGE INCREASE.
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