XN000022-1981-02-08 — Page 6

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1981

BESIDES HANDLING TRADE DISPUTES, THE SERVICE ALSO ASSISTED IN 12 555 CLAIMS REGARDING TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE. SOME 7 295 CLAIMS (58.1 PER CENT) WERE SETTLED AND THE BALANCE WERE REFERRED TO THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL.

OTHER DUTIES OF THE SERVICE INCLUDED THE INVESTIGATION OF 185 MAJOR COMPLAINTS CONCERNING FAILURE TO PROVIDE REST DAYS, HOLIDAYS WITH PAY, ANNUAL LEAVE PAY, IMPROPER DEDUCTIONS OF WORKERS' WAGES AND OTHER BREACHES OF THE ORDINANCE.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT DURING 1980, THERE WERE 37 WORK STOPPAGES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF 21 069 WORKING DAYS, WITH AN AVERAGE OF 10.16 DAYS LOST PER THOUSAND EMPLOYEES.

HE SAID THE AVERAGE WAS CONSIDERED LOW BY INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND WAS A POSITIVE INDICATOR OF GOOD LABOUR RELATIONS.

DURING THE YEAR, OFFICERS FROM THE SERVICE GAVE ADVICE ON MATTERS RELATING TO CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT IN 157 348 CONSULTATIONS SOUGHT BY WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS.

+THE INCREASE IN ENQUIRIES AND CONSULTATIONS (124 916 IN 1979) REFLECTS THE GROWING IMPORTANCE NOW ATTACHED TO LABOUR RELATIONS AND EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS BY BOTH EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

LOTTERIES FUND GRANTS FOR WELFARE PROJECTS

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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT APPROVED 88 GRANTS TOTALLING MORE THAN $28.2 MILLION FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND TO FINANCE NEW WELFARE PROJECTS AND TO IMPROVE EXISTING SERVICES DURING THE LAST SIX MONTHS OF 1980.

THEY INCLUDED A MAJOR CAPITAL GRANT OF ABOUT $2.8 MILLION FOR THE HONG KONG RED CROSS TO EXPAND ITS JONN F. KENNEDY CENTRE WHICH PROVIDES RESIDENTIAL TRAINING FOR SEVERELY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.

ANOTHER MAJOR GRANT OF $3.5 MILLION WAS FOR THE HONG KONG GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION TO BUILD A NEW HEADQUARTERS IN KOWLOON TO COPE WITH ITS EXPANDING ACTIVITIES.

THE GRANTS WERE APPROVED ON THE ADVICE OF THE SUBVENTION AND LOTTERIES FUND SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH IS REPRESENTED BY COMMUNITY LEADERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) GRANTS WERE CONSIDERED ON APPLICATION BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO FINANCE NEW PROJECTS OR TO IMPROVE EXISTING SERVICES SUCH AS RENOVATION OR PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT.

HE SAID THE GRANT FOR THE HONG KONG RED CROSS FORMED A MAJOR PORTION OF THE $3.2 MILLION CAPITAL COST TO EXPAND THE OVERALL FACILITIES OF THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTRE BY ADDING ONE STOREY TO THE EXISTING BUILDING.

THE CENTRE