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8.
Employment Exchanges and Unemployment Insurance
Workers are less willing to return to China, and the new China no longer readily accepts workers returning to the country.
Workers are pressing for some form of unemployment insurance as they are well aware of what is being attempted in China by way of social security.
If a full employment insurance scheme were initiated, it would be some time before it came into operation. An actuarial survey would be necessary which would be difficult at present, owing to lack of data, and the whole scheme would be expensive as it would necessitate the establish- ment of a central "Claims and Record Office". A prerequisite of any such scheme would be the establishment of an Employment Exchange, which is a declared aim of policy in Hong Kong.
It is recommended that a young experienced officer from the British Ministry of Labour and National Service be loaned for a period of about 3 years, and it is suggested that he makes full use of the spade work carried out in inaugurating an Employment Exchange Service in India.
Once the service was in operation, the rate
of contribution would be assessed by actuarial survey.
If a scheme covered one million workers,
a staff of 300 would be necessary for conducting the work of the central Claims and Record Office. For this reason it would not be practicable to bring in the full scheme for some time, but should be developed on a long term basis.
It is recommended that early consideration should be given to setting up an Exchange in Kowloon primarily as a placing agency, statistical information office and training organisation, and that publicity of the plans be given to the press in order that the public be better informed of the importance of labour problems.
9.
Relief Works.
The problem of unemployment is not only a matter of the Department of Labour. The Government has an overall responsibility, and the accepted policy in many countries is
(a) to place in reserve, in periods of prosperity, resources necessary for carrying out works prepared for periods of depression.
(b) for the carrying forward of unexpended balances from year to year.
/(c)
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