XN000022-1975-11-05 — Page 9

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1975

LABOUR DEPARTN NT TO EXPAND SERVICES

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PLANS FOR FUTURE PROGRAM 1E AND DEVELOPMENT IN SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE LABOUR DEPART 1ENT WERE ANNOUNCED IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. IAN PRICE.

HE SAID THE BASIS OF THE DEPARTMENT'S SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC LIES IN ITS STAFF WHICH HAD ICREASED BY OVER 400 PER CENT IN THE PAST TEN YEARS, COMPARED TO AN INCREASE OF SOME 77 PER CENT IN THE CIVIL SERVICE AS A WHOLE DURING THE SAME PERIOD.

HE ATTRIBUTED THE LARGE INCREASE TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF NEW LABOUR LEGISLATION, THE EXPANSION OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE, THE PROVISION OF THE INFRA-STRUCTURE FOR THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL, AND THE INCREASED EMPHASIS ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY REQUIRING A RAPID GROWTH IN THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE.

SUCH A RAPID EXPANSION POSED PROBLEMS, AND THE COMMISSIONER SAID HE HAD TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY DURING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL PAUSE TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THE USE OF MANPOWER.

HE HAD INITIALLY FOCUSSED ATTENTION ON THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE BECAUSE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY LEG SLATION COULD ONLY ACHIEVE ITS PURPOSE WHEN ADMINISTERED EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY.

MR. PRICE SAID HE HAD EXAMINED PARTICULARLY THE RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING OF INSPECTORS, THEIR ORGANISATION, STRUCTURE AND WORKING PROCEDURES. HE PROPOSED A RADICAL CHANGE IN THE BASIC TRAINING OF INSPECTORS, WITH MORE EMPHASIS ON THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF THEIR WORK.

THE COMMISSIONER HOPED TO EVENTUALLY PRODUCE AN INSPECTION SERVICE FOR INDUSTRY, WITH OFFICERS WHO WILL NOT ONLY DISCOVER WHERE THINGS ARE GOING WRONG, BUT WHO WILL HAVE THE ABILITY, AND THE TIME, TO OFFER PRACTICAL ADVICE ON HOW TO PUT THINGS RIGHT.+

HE ADDED THAT HE PROPOSED IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS TO WELD TOGETHER INTO ONE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION FOR A TOTAL ATTACK ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, THE LABOUR ADVISER'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE FIVE-YEAR INDUSTRIAL SAFETY PROGRAMME.

TURNING TO THE FUTURE MR. PRICE SAID HE PROPOSED TO IMPROVE LABOUR STANDARDS IN RESPECT OF PAID STATUTORY HOLIDAYS AND REDUCING OVERTIME WORK FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. HONG KONG, HE SAID, LAGGED BEHIND OTHER SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES IN THE PROVISION OF PAID STATUTORY HOLIDAYS.

+AT PRESENT THERE ARE ONLY SIX. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS INCREASED TO TEN, AND THE LABC JR ADVISORY BOARD HAS RECENTLY GIVEN ITS SUPPORT TO THIS.

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