XN000022-1980-11-19 — Page 13

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1980

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REFERRING TO THE REPORT OF THE SOCIAL RESEARCH CENTRE PUBLISHED IN 1975 SUBSEQUENT TO THE SURVEY, MR BRAY SAID SOME VERY IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS ON REMEDIAL ACTION WERE ENDORSED BY THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE AND A PROGRAMME PLAN HAD BEEN DRAWN UP TO ESTABLISH THE VARIOUS SERVICES IN A CO-ORDINATED AND SYSTEMATIC MANNER.

+THE PROGRAMME PLAN FOR PERSONAL SERVICES AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IS IN ITS SECOND YEAR OF OPERATION. IT HAS ONLY BEEN POSSIBLE TO AIM FOR A VERY BASIC STANDARD OF SERVICE IN THE THREE MAIN AREAS WHICH ARE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK, OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK AND FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION.

+ONCE THIS IS ACHIEVED, IN MOST CASES BY NEXT YEAR, THE PLAN ENVISAGES AN IMPROVEMENT IN STANDARDS AND THE QUALITY OF SERVICES,+ MR BRAY SAID.

HE ADDED THAT THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE NOW FELT THE TARGETS AND RESOURCE PRIORITIES OF THAT PLAN SHOULD BE REVIEWED, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION ANY FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS AR ISING FROM THE COMMITTEE'S FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS.

+ IT IS ALSO HOPED THAT SUFFICIENT RESOURCES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IN TIME TO STRENGTHEN THE EFFORT IN THIS FIELD,+ MR BRAY SAID.

IMPROVEMENTS TO EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS

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THE MOST IMMEDIATE PRIORITY FOR IMPROVEMENT TO THE PRESENT EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION SYSTEM IS TO STREAMLINE PROCEDURES TO ENABLE INJURED EMPLOYEES TO RECEIVE PAYMENTS MORE SPEEDILY.

THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON JOHN HENDERSON, SAID THIS AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IN RESPONSE TO POINTS RAISED BY FOUR UNOFFICIALS IN THE DEBATE ON THE MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS.

THE POINTS CONCERNED LABOUR RELATIONS, LABOUR DISPUTES, RECREATION FOR INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYEES, WELFARE OF INJURED WORKERS, IMPROVEMENT TO THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION SYSTEM AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING,

MR HENDERSON ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS NO MARKED DETERIORATION IN THE PRESENT POSITION OF LABOUR DISPUTES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

SPEAKING OF IMPROVEMENT TO THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION SYSTEM, MR HENDERSON SAID HE INTENDED TO INTRODUCE SEVERAL FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE LATER IN THE CURRENT SESSION OF THE COUNCIL.

ONE OF THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WOULD DISPENSE WITH THE NEED FOR EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS CONCERNING THE AMOUNTS OF COMPENSATION IN CASES INVOLVING TEMPORARY INCAPACITY OF LESS THAN 14 DAYS AND NO PERMANENT DISABILITY. INSTEAD SUCH CASES WOULD BE DEALT WITH BY CERTIFICATES ISSUED DIRECTLY BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

ANOTHER AMENDMENT