XN000022-1978-02-14 — Page 3

TUESDAY.

FEBRUARY 14, 1978

2.-

MORE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY REGULATIONS BEING CONSIDERED

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THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. PETER WILLIAMS SAID TODAY THAT A NUMBER OF NEW INDUSTRIAL SAFETY REGULATIONS ARE BEING CONSIDERED AND WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SOON.

HE ALSO DISCLOSED THAT A WORKING PARTY COMPRISING OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAS BEEN SET UP TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.

MR. WILLIAMS WAS SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF LION ROCK AT THE MANDARIN HOTEL.

HE GAVE A BRIEF RUN DOWN OF LABOUR LEGISLATION ENATED DUR ING RECENT YEARS AND EXPLAINED WHAT THEY WERE INTENDED TO ACHIEVE.

*RK-

MR. WILLIAMS TOUCHED ON FOUR AREAS -- INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, MEN'S COMPENSATION, INDUSTRIAL TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT WHÍCH HE SAID WERE OF INTEREST TO EMPLOYERS AND EXECUTIVES.

ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, MR. WILLIAMS SAID THE LEGISLATION PRESCRIBED SAFETY STANDARDS AND MEASURES, SAFE METHODS AND PRACTICE IN WORKING IN INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS.

+THE OVERALL AIMS OF THESE STANDARDS AND MEASURES,+ HE SAID +ARE TO PROTECT WORKERS FROM INJURY, WORK PLACES FROM HAZARDS AND EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES FROM LOSS OF PRODUCTION AND OF EARNINGS DUE TO INJURIES AND MISHAPS.+

MR. WILLIAMS SAID THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE WAS AMENDED LAST MONTH TO RAISE THE NON-MANUAL WORKERS' WAGE CEILING FOR APPLICATION OF THE ORDINANCE FROM $2,000 TO $5,000 PER MONTH.

+

+ IT MEANS, HE SAID, THAT NOW IN ADDITION TO ALL MANUAL WORKERS, NON-MANUAL WORKERS EARNING UP TO $5,000 A MONTH ARE COVERED.+

+THE ORDINANCE NOW COVERS 98.9 PER CENT OF THE ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE POPULATION,+

TURNING TO INDUSTRIAL TRAINING, MR. WILLIAMS SAID THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAD AN INDUSTRIA TRAINING BRANCH WHOSE ROLE WAS TO HELP BRING ABOUT A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF INDUSTRIAL TRAINING GEARED TO THE DEVELOPING NEEDS OF HONG KONG.

THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE WHICH AIMED TO PROMOTE APPRENTICE TRAINING AND REGULATE THE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING OF APPRENTICES IN DESIGNATED TRADES, WAS BROUGHT INTO FORCE IN JULY 1976. IT REQUIRED EMPLOYERS OF YOUNG PERSONS BETWEEN 14 AND 18 YEARS OF AGE TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT OF APPRENTICESHIP AND TO PROVIDE THEM WITH PROPER PRACTICAL ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND COMPLEMENTARY RELATED TECHNICAL EDUCATION ON A DAY-RELEASE BASIS.

TO ADMINISTER