XN000022-1980-03-12 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1980

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LAW ON CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

OF WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS IN INDUSTRY

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED THE TRANSFER OF THE REGULATIONS COVERING THE GENERAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS IN INDUSTRY FROM THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE TO THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.

THE NECESSARY AMENDING LEGISLATION TO FACILITATE THE TRANSFER, THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980 AND THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980, WERE PASSED INTO LAW WITH AMENDMENTS IN THE COUNCIL.

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE OF THE TWO BILLS, THE HON PETER C WONG SAID THE INTENTION OF THE BILLS WERE TO ́RATIONALISE THE DISTRIBUTION OF POWERS BETWEEN THE TWO PRINCIPAL ORDINANCES SO THAT THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WOULD DEAL WITH ALL MEASURES OF A SOCIAL NATURE RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT LEAVING THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE TO DEAL WITH SAFETY AT WORK.

DURING THE COURSE OF EXAMINING THE PROVISIONS OF THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL, MR WONG DISCOVERED THE POWERS TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WERE MUCH WIDER THAN WAS INTENDED.

HE SAID: +IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE DEALS WITH EMPLOYMENT IN BOTH THE INDUSTRIAL AND NON-INDUSTRIAL SECTORS AND THE POWERS OF ENFORCEMENT APPROPRIATE TO THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE APPROPRIATE TO THE NON-INDUSTRIAL SECTOR.

+ INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT IS, BY ITS VERY NATURE, COMPLEX AND INVOLVES GREATER RISKS. HENCE, MORE EXTENSIVE POWERS OF ENFORCEMENT ARE NECESSARY.

AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR AND THE DEPUTY LAW DRAFTSMAN, IT WAS AGREED THAT AMENDMENTS SHOULD BE MADE SO AS TO CONFINE THE APPLICATION OF THE WIDER POWERS TO THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR ONLY, MR WONG SAID,

UNDER ANOTHER AMENDMENT THE DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION BY PUBLIC OFFICERS IS ONLY PERMITTED IN THE COURSE OF OFFICIAL DUTY.

THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL FURTHER SEEKS TO BRING EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES DEALING WITH DOMESTIC SERVANTS WITHIN THE AMBIT OF THE PRINCIPAL. ORDINANCE WHICH MR WONG DESCRIBED AS +BOTH NECESSARY AND DESIRABLE+,

THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980 WHICH WAS ALSO PASSED CONTAINS A NUMBER OF CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS MADE NECESSARY AS A RESULT OF THE TRANSFER OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS TO THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.

IN REPLY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON JN HENDERSON, THANKED MR WONG FOR HIS VIGILANCE AND SUPPORT FOR THE TWO BILLS.

/MR HENDERSON