XN000022-1972-05-15 — Page 12

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Monday, May 15, 1972

WORKERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT LABOUR LEGISLATION

Education To Overcome Ignorance Of The Law

Mr. Paul Tsui, Commissioner of Labour, called upon workers to know

about labour legislation in order to understand the socio-economic environment

in which they live.

This was said today (May 15) in his opening address at a seminar

on Workers' Education and Trade Union Leadership Training organized by

the Department of Extra-Mural Studies, University of Hong Kong.

He said, "Whatever action we take should be within the bounds of

the legislative framework. If one feels that the legislation does not

adequately protect his interests, then he can try to change and improve it

by constitutional means."

Mr. Tsui said, "Many workers have failed to claim what is theirs

by statutory right because they are not aware of that right."

Citing a recent case in which workers in a factory had not been

given a holiday pay for the past two years, though they were qualified and

therefore entitled to it, Mr. Tsui said, "Unless the workers bring it to the

notice of the Labour Department, it is not possible for the Labour Department

to help each worker get his due."

Referring to the inter-relationship between labour and management,

Mr. Tsui said, "Trade unions leadership training can help develop well-organized

trade unions to conduct effective bargaining which will result in collective

agreements covering such items as wages, including time and piece rates, and

incentive payments, hours of work, rest periods, shift work and over-time,

holidays, sick leave, discipline and retirement gratuities.

/In