XN000022-1980-05-18 — Page 4

SUNDAY, MAY 18, 1980

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PROSECUTIONS AGAINST LABOUR LAW BREAKERS

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THERE WERE IN APRIL 752 PROSECUTIONS AGAINST INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS FOR VIOLATING LABOUR LEGISLATION.

THE CASES - TAKEN OUT BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S PROSECUTIONS UNIT RESULTED IN FINES TOTALLING $498 700 BEING IMPOSED BY THE COURTS.

THE MAJORITY OF CASES WERE RELATED TO BREACHES OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND VARIOUS REGULATIONS MADE UNDER THE ORDINANCE, INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS.

AMONG THEM, 335 CONCERNED BREACHES OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY REGULATIONS AND THE FINES AMOUNTED TO $312 900.

OF THESE 335 CASES, 211 (WITH $170 200 IN FINES) WERE FOR BREACHES OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (GUARDING AND OPERATION OF MACHINERY) REGULATIONS AND 58 (WITH $88 400 IN FINES) WERE FOR BREACHES OF THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS.

OFFENCES RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS ACCOUNTED FOR 388 CASES AND FINES TOTALLED $160 900.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE CASES WERE THE RESULT OF ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT'S FACTORY INSPECTORATE AND THE LABOUR INSPECTORATE.

HE POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH EXISTING LEGISLATION SAFEGUARDED EMPLOYEES AT WORK AND PROTECTED THE WELFARE OF WOMEN AND YOUNG WORKERS, IT TOOK MORE THAN LAWS TO STAMP OUT OFFENCES IN INDUSTRY, AND CO-OPERATION WAS NEEDED FROM ALL CONCERNED TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION.

REPAIRING COUNTRY PARK LOSS ****

COUNTRY PARKS STAFF OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT ARE WORKING HARD IN THE HILLS ONCE AGAIN TO MAKE GOOD SOME OF THE LOSSES CAUSED BY INCONSIDERATE AND CARELESS PICNICKERS.

MORE THAN HALF A MILLION TREES WERE DAMAGED IN 417 FIRES INSIDE COUNTRY PARKS LAST WINTER. THE AREAS DEVASTATED COVERED SOME 3 000 HECTARES.

YEARS OF PAINSTAKING LABOUR WILL HAVE TO BE DONE IN ORDER THAT THE SCORCHED GROUND CAN TURN GREEN WITH TREES AGAIN.

IT WILL HAVE TO START AGAIN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THE GERMINATION OF YOUNG TREES.

/LIMITED BY

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