XN000022-1977-02-16 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1977

FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL CHILD EMPLOYMENT IN FACTORIES

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THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. IAN PRICE

IAN PRICE, HAS WRITTEN TO EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATIONS AND EMPLOYEES UNIONS IN HONG KONG TO ENLIST THEIR HELP IN FIGHTING ILLEGAL CHILD EMPLOYMENT IN FACTORIES.

IN HIS LETTER, THE COMMISSIONER SAID HE WAS AWARE THAT IN ADDITION TO THE CASUAL EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN UNDER 14, IN IGNORANCE, THERE WERE DELIBERATE ATTEMPTS TO EVADE THE LAW.

HE SAID SOME FACTORIES INSTALLED EARLY-WARNING SYSTEMS OF VARYING DEGREES OF SOPHISTICATION TO NULLIFY OR DELAY THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INSPECTION AND HE CALLED ON EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATIONS AND EMPLOYEES UNIONS TO MAKE CLEAR TO THEIR MEMBERS THEIR DISAPPROVAL OF THESE MALPRACTICES,

REFERRING TO RECENT ATTACKS BOTH LOCALLY AND OVERSEAS ON THE ILLEGAL EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN IN HONG KONG, MR. PRICE POINTED OUT THAT THESE ATTACKS COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL HARM TO HONG KONG'S TRADING INTERESTS WHICH IN TURN WOULD DAMAGE THE PROSPERITY AND LIVELIHOOD OF BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES.

HE SAID: +I TRUST THAT YOUR ORGANISATION IS AS ANXIOUS AS I AM TO UPHOLD THE LAW AND ELIMINATE ILLEGAL CHILD EMPLOYMENT - THAT IS - THE EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONS BELOW 14 IN FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS,

+ TAKE ALL POSSIBLE STEPS AT MY DISPOSAL TO REDUCE ILLEGAL CHILD EMPLOYMENT TO THE MINIMUM, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES IN ENFORCEMENT.

+I APPRECIATE THAT THERE CAN BE PROBLEMS IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE LEGAL AGE OF YOUNG PERSONS APPLYING FOR WORK.

+ THE JUVENILE IDENTITY CARD IS OF VALUE BUT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO RELY COMPLETELY ON IT UNTIL COVERAGE IS 100 PER CENT.

+THIS IS A MASSIVE PROGRAMME AND AT BEST CANNOT BE FINISHED BEFORE THE END OF 1978.

+ IN THE MEANTIME, THE LABOUR INSPECTORATE IS PREPARED TO ASSIST IN THE VERIFICATION OF THE TRUE AGE OF A JUVENILE, BUT THIS SERVICE WILL HAVE TO BE RESERVED FOR CASES IN WHICH THE EMPLOYER HAS HIMSELF ATTEMPTED AND FAILED TO ESTABLISH THE FACTS.+

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