XN000022-1974-12-18 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1974

MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE OVERTIME FOR WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS REDUCED

NEW REGULATIONS APPROVED BY LEGCO

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED NEW REGULATIONS MADE BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR REDUCING THE NUMBER OF HOURS OF OVERTIME WHICH WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS MAY WORK EACH YEAR.

MOVING THE RESOLUTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE NEW REGULATIONS, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. JAN PRICE, TOLD THE COUNCIL THE GOVERNMENT HAD A CLEAR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT WOMEN WORKERS BECAUSE OF THE PRESENT STATE OF TRADE UNIONISM IN HONG KONG,

THE NEW REGULATIONS - THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDER- TAKINGS (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS - REDUCE PERMISSIBLE OVERTIME FOR WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS FROM 300 HOURS TO 250 HOURS A YEAR FROM JANUARY 1, 1975. IN A SECOND STAGE, THEY PROVIDE FOR A FURTHER REDUCTION TO 200 HOURS FROM JANUARY 1, 1976.

IN HIS SPEECH, MR. PRICE REJECTED THE ARGUMENT THAT IT WAS INAPPROPRIATE TO CONTINUE TO REQUIRE SPECIAL PROTECTION FOR WOMEN AT WORK IN THIS AGE OF MOVEMENT TOWARDS REMOVAL OF DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEX.+

+IN THE PRESENT STATE OF TRADE UNIONISM IN HONG KONG, I CONSIDER THAT FOR SOME YEARS THE GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE A CLEAR RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT WOMEN BY LIMITING THE HOURS OF OVERTIME WHICH CAN BE WORKED BY THEM, HE SAID.

+IN THE LOCAL CONTEXT IT SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED THAT MANY WORKING WOMEN ALSO NEED TO ATTEND TO DOMESTIC MATTERS AT HOME AND THIS IS ANOTHER REASON THAT A LIMITATION ON THEIR OVERTIME IS DESIRABLE.

+AND IN THIS CONNECTION I SHOULD ADD THAT ELSEWHERE THE VIEW HAS BEEN TAKEN THAT THE REPEAL OF THIS TYPE OF PROTECTIVE LEGISLATION WOULD PLACE UNDUE PRESSURE ON WORKING WOMEN.+

MR. PRICE SAID THAT A COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY LAST YEAR HAD SHOWN THAT THE ECONOMIC EFFECT OF THE NEW REDUCTIONS WOULD BE ONLY MARGINAL.

AND HE POINTED OUT THAT HE WAS NOT PROPOSING ANY CHANGES TO HIS POWERS UNDER REGULATIONS 11(6) AND 11(7) OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS REGULATIONS TO GIVE SPECIAL PERMISSION, IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, FOR A GREATER AMOUNT OF OVERTIME TO BE WORKED.

THESE REGULATIONS ALLOWED FOR A HIGH DEGREE OF FLEXIBILITY, HE SAID, AND HE GAVE AN ASSURANCE THAT HE WOULD CONSIDER SYMPATHETICALLY AND QUICKLY ANY REQUESTS MADE UNDER THEIR PROVISIONS.

THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL