XN000022-1978-11-14 — Page 4

I

3

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1978

OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT A MUST FOR WORKERS PROTECTION

******

MANUAL WORKERS TAKING UP EMPLOYMENT OVERSEAS WERE TODAY REMINDED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES BY ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT WITH THEIR PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS AND HAVE THE CONTRACT ATTESTED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT BEFORE THEY LEAVE HONG KONG.

SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER, MRS. SOO MOK SAU-HA, WARNED THAT A WORKER WHO FAILED TO ENTER INTO A WRITTEN CONTRACT WOULD FIND HIMSELF IN A DISADVANTAGEOUS POSITION IN CASE OF A DISPUTE.

+ INDEED, SHE SAID, +VERBAL AGREEMENTS WHICH USUALLY MAY 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 WHEN IT IS CALLED UPON TO INTERVENE IN THE EVENT OF A DISPUTE,+ MRS. SOO ADDED.

MRS. SOO EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT UNDER THE CONTRACTS FOR OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE TO PRESENT OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR FOR ATTESTATION.

WRITTEN CONTRACTS DULY ATTESTED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT ONLY CLEARLY DEFINE THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF BOTH THE CONTRACTING PARTIES, BUT ALSO ENSURE THE REASONABLENESS OF THE TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT.

+ALL CONTRACTS FOR OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT OF MANUAL WORKERS MUST INCLUDE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, DETAILS OF REMUNERATION, NATURE AND HOURS OF WORK, ENTITLEMENT TO REST DAYS AND PAID HOLIDAYS, MEDICAL TREATMENT, PAYMENT OF WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION, REPATRIATION ARRANGEMENTS AND PROVISION FOR DEPENDANTS.

+AS A DOUBLE SAFEGUARD TO PROTECT THE WORKERS, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD, PRIOR TO ATTESTING A CONTRACT, REQUIRE AN EMPLOYER TO NOMINATE A PERSON PERMANENTLY RESIDENT IN HONG KONG AND APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR TO FURNISH A BOND OR SIGN A GUARANTEE FOR THE GENERAL PERFORMANCE OF THE CONTRACT BY THE EMPLOYER, MRS. SOO ADDED.

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

عام