FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1994
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ADJUDICATION BOARD PROPOSED
TO HANDLE MINOR EMPLOYMENT CLAIMS
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THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS PROPOSED ΤΟ SET UP A BOARD TO ADJUDICATE MINOR CLAIMS ARISING FROM DISPUTES OF STATUTORY OR CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS OF EMPLOYMENT WHEN SETTLEMENT CANNOT BE ACHIEVED THROUGH CONCILIATION OF ITS LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE (LRS).
DETAILS OF THE PROPOSAL WERE SET OUT IN THE MINOR EMPLOYMENT CLAIMS ADJUDICATION BOARD BILL GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).
MINOR
EMPLOYMENT
CLAIMS
"UNDER THE PROPOSAL, THE ADJUDICATION BOARD WILL BE SET UP IN THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT BUT SEPARATED FROM AND INDEPENDENT OF THE LRS TO PROVIDE A QUICK, SIMPLE AND INEXPENSIVE SERVICE,' ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR ALFRED CHAN, SAID.
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"IT WILL DETERMINE CLAIMS INVOLVING NOT MORE THAN FIVE CLAIMANTS AND FOR EACH CLAIMANT THE AMOUNT OF CLAIM DOES NOT EXCEED $5,000.
"THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF $5,000 WILL BE SUBJECT TO REGULAR REVIEW AND IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE BOARD WILL HANDLE ABOUT 1,300 CASES IN A YEAR, HE ADDED.
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MR CHAN SAID A NUMBER OF SENIOR LABOUR OFFICERS WITH ADEQUATE EXPERIENCE IN LABOUR LAWS AND LABOUR RELATIONS IN HONG KONG WOULD BE APPOINTED AS ADJUDICATION OFFICERS.
"HEARINGS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PUBLIC, AND IN AN INFORMAL MANNER," HE SAID.
THE DAYS.
"NO LEGAL REPRESENTATION ON EITHER SIDE WILL BE ALLOWED."'
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HE SAID THE ADJUDICATION OFFICER MAY, ON HIS OWN MOTION OR ON APPLICATION OF A PARTY, REVIEW AN AWARD MADE BY HIM WITHIN 14
"APPEAL AGAINST THE AWARD OF THE BOARD SHALL LIK WITH THE HIGH COURT ON THE GROUND THAT THE AWARD IS ERRONEOUS ON A POINT OF LAW OR OUTSIDE THE JURISDICTION OF THE BOARD, HE ADDED.
MR CHAN SAID REGULAR REPORTS ON THE WORK OF THE BOARD WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE LABOUR RELATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD.
THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LATER THIS MONTH.
"WE HOPE THE ADJUDICATION SERVICE WOULD SPEED UP THE SETTLEMENT OF LABOUR DISPUTES, WHICH IN TURN WOULD HELP IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES, MR CHAN SAID.
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"WE ALSO HOPE THAT IN LONGER TERM, THE SERVICE COULD HAVE POSITIVE EFFECT ON LABOUR PRODUCTIVITY AND OUTPUT, HE ADDED.
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