XN000022-1972-10-23 — Page 6

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Monday, October 23, 1972

HIGH SETTLEMENT RATE ACHIEVED IN INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

A settlement rate of 74.9 per cent in industrial disputes has

been achieved by the Labour Relations Service of the Labour Department

during the third quarter of this year.

Of a total of 1,114 disputes, the Labour Relations Service

helped settle 835 during the period.

"This rate is high considering the fact that all cases brought

to the Service were taken up in the first instance irrespective of the

rights and wrongs of the parties," said Mr. T.F. Tsui, Senior Labour

Officer in charge of the Labour Relations Division.

As a result of settlements reached, a total of $2,119,323 was

paid to 2,488 workers as arrears of wages, payment in lieu of notice under

the Employment Ordinance or as ex-gratia severance pay.

Mr. Tsui said most labour problems arose out of disagreement over

wage rates, changes in conditions of employment, dismissals, prolonged lay-

off on redundancy and insolvency of the employer or simply mutual mis-

understanding.

The 10 strikes which occurred during the quarter accounted for

a total lose of 19,103 man-days, including 18,325 man-days lost as a result

of industrial actions in two major dockyards following the announcement by

the managements of their intended merger.

The disputes