6
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1994
FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPER CONTRACTS
* * * * *
LAU WAI-HING AND A
FOLLOWING IS A QUESTION BY THE HON EMILY WRITTEN REPLY BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, W K LAM, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):
QUESTION UNDER EXISTING LEGISLATION, FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS
(A)
MR
WHOSE
CONTRACTS OF EMPLOYMENT HAVE BEEN PREMATURELY TERMINATED BY THEIR EMPLOYERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WORK IN HONG KONG UNTIL THEY
EMPLOYERS. ENTER INTO NEW CONTRACTS WITH OTHER LOCAL WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL OF THE FOLLOWING :
TIME
A
WHAT IS
AVERAGE LENGTH OF THE
FOREIGN THAT DOMESTIC HELPER HAS то WAIT BEFORE THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL ADJUDICATES HIS OR HER CASE;
(B)
WHAT IS THE KONG
BY
MANY
NUMBER OF FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS IN HONG WHOSE CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN TERMINATED PREMATURELY
EMPLOYERS THEIR
AND WHO HAVE
THE LABOUR TO AWAIT ADJUDICATION OF TRIBUNAL'S
OF CASES;
THIS, HOW HELPERS FOREIGN DOMESTIC
STRANDED BEING HONG KONG AWAITING ADJUDICATION DUE TO THEIR INABILITY TO AFFORD THE RETURN PASSAGE TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
(C)
IN
RESPECT
OF THE
HONG
THEIR
ARE
IN
ARE
WHAT
WHO FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS STRANDED IN
KONG AS DESCRIBED IN (B) ABOVE, MEASURES DOES THE GOVERNMENT HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR LIVING DURING THEIR STAY HERE; AND
(D)
IF THE
FOREIGN
RETURN TO
OR HIS
DOMESTIC
HER
HELPER
HOME
COUNTRY FIRST,
CHOOSES CONCERNED
WILL
ΤΟ
THE
HONG KONG
WHEN HE OR SHE
MAY ARISE
EMPLOYER BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE PASSAGE TO IS CALLED UPON TO APPEAR GOVERNMENT CONSIDERED WHERE THE FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPER IS FORCED TO DROP THE CASE ON ACCOUNT OF HIS OR INABILITY TO PAY FOR THE PASSAGE TO HONG KONG?
BEFORE THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL; HAS THE
THAT A SITUATION
HER
REPLY:
MR PRESIDENT,
(A)
CASES AS TO
LOCALS.
AT
THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE WHETHER THE CLAIMANTS ARE FOREIGNERS OR PRESENT, THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF TIME BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL APPROACH BY A CLAIMANT TO THE LABOUR
AND TRIBUNAL
LABOUR ADJUDICATION IS AROUND SEVEN MONTHS. HOWEVER, THE TRIBUNAL MAY ARRANGE AN EARLY APPOINTMENT FOR A PERSON WHO NEEDS
FOR TO LEAVE HONG KONG URGENTLY. THE WAITING TIME
IS
WHEN EXPECTED TO BE REDUCED ADJUDICATION
THE MINOR LABOUR EMPLOYMENT CLAIMS ADJUDICATION BOARD SET UP IN THE DEPARTMENT COMMENCES OPERATION LATER THIS YEAR.
/(B) WE DO