XN000022-1980-08-29 — Page 8

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 1980

THEY ARE REQUESTED TO ASSEMBLE IN THE PRESS ROOM ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING 45 MINUTES BEFORE THE SCHEDULED TIME OF ARRIVAL,

PRESS REPRESENTATIVES ARE ADVISED TO BRING THEIR IDENTITY CARDS OR PASSPORTS TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO THE AIRPORT'S RESTRICTED AREA.

THE MINISTER WILL GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE AT KAI TAK AIRPORT ON SEPTEMBER 5 (FRIDAY) BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE.

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR BETTER LABOUR RELATIONS ****

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IS STEPPING UP ITS EFFORTS TO PROMOTE HARMONIOUS LABOUR RELATIONS IN HONG KONG.

DISCLOSING THIS TODAY, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR J.N. HENDERSON, POINTED OUT THAT THE PROMOTION FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT'S LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE (LRS) HAD BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY STRENGTHENED TO PROVIDE A FULL RANGE OF ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE ON ALL ASPECTS OF LABOUR RELATIONS AND PERSONNEL MANAGMENT.

HE SAID THAT FOR YEARS THE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN PURSUING THE GOAL OF MAINTAINING AND FURTHERING HARMONIOUS LABOUR RELATIONS THROUGH THE PROVISION OF CONCILIATION SERVICES TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS

IN DISPUTE SITUATIONS.

+ IT IS HOPED THAT BY FOSTERING HARMONIOUS LABOUR RELATIONS, INDUSTRIAL PEACE AND SOCIAL STABILITY COULD BE ACHIEVED, HE ADDED.

IN A LETTER TO EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATIONS, MR HENDERSON SAID THE LRS PLANNED, BY MEANS OF VISITS AND ACTIVE ASSISTANCE TO ESTABLISHMENTS AND EMPLOYERS' AND EMPLOYEES' ORGANISATIONS, TO PROMOTE CONSULTATIVE ARRANGEMENTS WITHIN ESTABLISHMENTS AND A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MANAGMENT AND WORKERS.

HE ENCOURAGED EMPLOYERS TO ADOPT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES CONDUCIVE TO GOOD LABOUR-MANAGMENT RELATIONS, INCLUDING WRITTEN CONTRACTS OF EMPLOYMENT, EMPLOYEES' HANDBOOKS AND DISCIPLINARY, GRIEVANCE AND DISPUTE PROCEDURES.

THE COMMISSIONER SAID THAT AS A FIRST STEP, STAFF OF THE LRS WOULD BE VISITING ESTABLISHMENTS AND INTERESTED BODIES TO GIVE ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE ON MATTERS SUCH AS PERSONNEL POLICIES, CONSULTATIVE ARRANGEMENTS, COMMUNICATION CHANNELS, NEGOTIATING MACHINERY, CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND GRIEVANCE AND DISPUTE PROCEDURES.

ALL EMPLOYERS' AND EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATIONS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN OBTAINING ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE IN THESE MATTERS ARE WELCOME TO CONTACT THE LRS HEADQUARTERS AT NEW RODNEY BLOCK, 99 QUEENSWAY, WAN CHAI, TEL 5-282523 EXT. 74.

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