XN000022-1978-03-14 — Page 5

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TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1978

BEWARE OF OVERSEAS JOBS WITHOUT CONTRACT

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MANUAL WORKERS TAKING UP OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT WERE TODAY URGED TO ENTER INTO EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS WITH PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONTRACTS OF OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE TO PROTECT THE IR OWN INTEREST.

SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER, MRS. SOO MOK SAU-HA, SAID THAT WRITTEN CONTRACTS DULY ATTESTED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT ONLY CLEARLY DEFINE THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES, EUT ALSO ENSURE THE REASONABLENESS OF THE TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT.

SHE SAID: +ALL EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS MUST INCLUDE DETAILS OF PAY, NATURE AND HOURS OF WORK, PAYMENT OF SICKNESS ALLOWANCE AND WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION, REPATRIATION ARRANGEMENTS, AND PROVISIONS FOR DEPENDANTS.

+AS A DOUBLE SAFEGUARD TO PROTECT WORKERS, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD, PRIOR TO ATTESTATION, REQUIRE AN EMPLOYER TO NOMINATE SOMEONE LIVING IN HONG KONG, OR A LOCAL FIRM TO SIGN A LETTER OF GUARANTEE OR FURNISH A BOND FOR THE GENERAL PERFORMANCE OF THE CONTRACT BY THE EMPLOYER.+

+WITHOUT A CONTRACT, A WORKER WOULD,

A WORKER WOULD, IN FACT, BE DOING HIMSELF INJUSTICE AND THE CONSEQUENCES ARE OBVIOUS,+ MRS. SOO ADDED.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT IN THE EVENT OF A DISPUTE OVER EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS, THE WORKER WOULD FIND HIMSELF IN A MOST DISADVANTAGEOUS POSITION.

SHE SAID: +VERBAL AGREEMENTS WHICH USUALLY DO NOT ADEQUATELY COVER ALL ASPECTS OF EMPLOYMENT ARE ALWAYS A SUBJECT OF CONTENTION. MOREOVER, THE ABSENCE OF AN ATTESTED CONTRACT WOULD TO A GREAT EXTENT IMPEDE THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT FROM INTERVENING INTO DISPUTES.+

+TO PUT IT IN SIMPLE LANGUAGE, A WORKER SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO WORK IN FOREIGN ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF A PROPERLY ATTESTED CONTRACT.+

MRS. SOO CALLED ON THOSE WORKERS WHO WISHED TO TAKE UP OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT TO CONSULT THE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AT 99, QUEENSWAY OR TELEPHONE 5-281035 ON THE PROPER COURSES TO FOLLOW.

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