XN000022-1975-12-30 — Page 3

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1975

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FURTHER STEP TO CUT PERMITTED OVERTIME

FOR WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS

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THE FINAL STAGE OF THE PHASED PROGRAMME TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF OVERTIME HOURS FOR WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS IN INDUSTRY COMES INTO EFFECT ON THURSDAY (JANUARY 1).

FROM THAT DATE, THE MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE OVERTIME FOR THESE WORKERS WILL BE 200 HOURS A YEAR.

THE PROGRAMME BEGAN A YEAR AGO WHEN THE PERMITTED OVERTIME WAS CUT FROM 300 TO 250 HOURS UNDER THE THEN AMENDED FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS REGULATIONS, WHICH ALSO PROVIDED FOR A FURTHER REDUCTION FROM 250 TO 200 HOURS FROM JANUARY 1976.

THE LABOUR OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS UNIT, MR. ALFRED CHAN, ADVISED FACTORY PROPRIETORS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THIS FURTHER REDUCTION OF OVERTIME WHEN PLANNING THEIR PRODUCTION SCHEDULES.

+OVERTIME EMPLOYMENT SHOULD ONLY BE USED AS A TEMPORARY MEASURE TO COPE WITH SUDDEN PRESSURE OF WORK AND SHOULD NOT BE USED PRIMARILY TO PROLONG THE DAILY WORKING HOURS.

+A FACTORY WHICH CANNOT COPE WITH THE NORMAL PRODUCTION SCHEDULE SHOULD CONSIDER MORE EFFECTIVE METHODS TO INCREASE PRODUCTION, SUCH AS INCREASING THE LABOUR FORCE, OPERATING A SHIFT SCHEME OR IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY.

+LONG WORKING HOURS AND CONSTANT OVERTIME WORK TEND TO AFFECT WORKERS' MORALE, EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY. THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCTS MAY ALSO BE AFFECTED, HE SAID.

MR. CHAN ADDED THAT HIS UNIT WOULD BE PLEASED TO HELP PROPRIETORS TO FIND WAYS TO COPE WITH THIS FURTHER REDUCTION OF OVERTIME.

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