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Labour Department's "chips allotment" system
Following is a question by the Hon Zachary Wong Wai-yin and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Michael Leung, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
It is learnt that some of the Labour Department's district offices have introduced a "chips allotment" system to regulate the number of cases handled each day. In this regard, will the Government inform this Council :
Reply:
(a)
(b)
Mr President,
(a)
(b)
which district offices in the Labour Department have adopted the "chips allotment" system in providing services; and
whether the adoption of the "chips allotment" system is due to staff shortage of those district offices; if so, how and when the situation can be improved; if not, what are the reasons for adopting such a system?
At present, the Labour Department is providing services through a "chips allotment" system at all the nine offices of the Local Employment Services, all the four Occupational Medicine Units, and four of the ten offices of the Labour Relations Service.
The 'chips allotment' system was not introduced because of staff shortage. This common customer service practice in the private sector was adopted by the Labour Department primarily to improve both the quality and efficiency of the Department's service to the public. This method enables the Department to provide services in an efficient and orderly manner. It is also an appointment system with an obvious advantage that customers waiting to be served can leave to deal with their own business and then return for the services at the scheduled time without unnecessary waiting. This system has so far been working well. The Department will nevertheless keep its effectiveness under constant review and bring about improvements as and when appropriate.
End/Wednesday, March 29, 1995