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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1992
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE QUOTA ALLOCATION ANNOUNCED TODAY HAD BEEN FINE-TUNED AFTER HAVING CONSULTED MEMBERS OF THE OMELCO MANPOWER PANEL AND THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD LAST WEEK.
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WILL SHORTLY ISSUE LETTERS TO EMPLOYERS WHO WILL BE GIVEN SIX MONTHS ΤΟ ARRANGE THE IMPORTATION OF WORKERS.
SUCCESSFUL
"EMPLOYERS WHO DO NOT WISH TO TAKE UP THE QUOTA SHOULD INFORM THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT THE QUOTA CAN BE REALLOCATED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO RESERVE THE RIGHT ΤΟ WITHDRAW THE QUOTA IN THE EVENT OF BREACH OF CONDITIONS BY AN EMPLOYER. FURTHERMORE, EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE BREACHED THE CONDITIONS OF THE SCHEME WILL BE DEBARRED FROM TAKING PART IN FUTURE IMPORTATION SCHEMES.
MEANWHILE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, DEBATE ON THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT} (NO.3) BILL 1992 WOULD BE RESUMED AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON,
THE BILL SEEKS TO RAISE THE MAXIMUM PENALTIES FOR UNLAWFUL DEDUCTION OF WAGES FROM $10,000 TO $100,000 AND UNDERPAYMENT OF WAGES FROM $20,000 ΤΟ $200,000, AND TO INTRODUCE FOR BOTH OFFENCES AN ADDITIONAL PENALTY OF IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE YEAR.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID:
"CASES OF UNLAWFUL DEDUCTION AND UNDERPAYMENT OF WAGES BY UNSCRUPULOUS EMPLOYERS HAD ARISEN UNDER THE LABOUR IMPORTATION SCHEMES.
"IN ORDER ΤΟ DETER SUCH MALPRACTICES, IT IS NECESSARY ΤΟ INCREASE THE MAXIMUM PENALTIES FOR THESE OFFENCES."
IN ADDITION, FOUR OTHER BILLS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO BE PASSED THIS AFTERNOON WHICH ARE AIMED AT ENHANCING PROTECTION FOR EMPLOYEES WORKING IN HONG KONG.
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION AND HELP IMPORTED WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN EXPLOITED BY THEIR EMPLOYERS TO FIND ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT.
FINALLY, THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT THE LABOUR IMPORTATION SCHEME WOULD NOT MEAN AN AMNESTY OR JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
"ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL BE REPATRIATED AS SOON AS THEY ARE APPREHENDED, HE ADDED.
LL
/PRELIMINARY QUOTA