XN000022-1982-02-20 — Page 6

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1982

LABOUR RELATIONS CONFERENCE OPENS

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IN THE FACE OF EXTERNAL PRESSURES AND ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTIES THERE IS AN INCREASING NEED FOR BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES TO RECOGNISE THEIR MUTUAL DEPENDENCE AND TO CO-OPERATE WITH EACH OTHER.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR J.N. HENDERSON, THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING AT THE OPENING OF A LABOUR RELATIONS CONFERENCE HELD BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AT THE HOLIDAY INN HOTEL,

THE CONFERENCE, ATTENDED BY ABOUT 250 PEOPLE, WAS ONE OF THE FUNCTIONS OF A YEAR-LONG LABOUR AND STAFF RELATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT STARTED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME. ANOTHER FUNCTION OF THE PROJECT WAS A SERIES OF FIVE LABOUR RELATIONS WORKSHOPS FOR EMPLOYEES.

MR HENDERSON REMINDED THE 250 PEOPLE ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE THAT THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF GOOD LABOUR RELATIONS WAS TO HELP BRING ABOUT INDUSTRIAL PEACE AND SOCIAL STABILITY, AND IT SHOULD BE ACHIEVED AS FAR AS POSSIBLE BY HARMONIOUS ACCORD RATHER THAN BY ARID DIVERSIVENESS.

IN THE YEARS AHEAD, WHILST CONTINUING TO WORK FOR RAPID ECONOMIC GROWTH, EFFORTS MUST ALSO BE MADE TO MAKE HONG KONG A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN.

MR HENDERSON THEN LISTED SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT WOULD HELP ACHIEVE THESE TWIN OBJECTIVES..

HE HAD NO DOUBT THAT EMPLOYERS WOULD CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR GREATER PROFITS AND WORKERS FOR INCREASING WAGES.

BUT BEYOND PROFITS FOR THE EMPLOYERS, HE POINTED OUT, THERE WERE ALWAYS THE WIDER DIMENSIONS OF THE WORK FORCE'S SAFETY AND WELFARE, THE COMMUNITY'S WELL-BEING AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND BEYOND INCREASING WAGES AND IMPROVING TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THE EMPLOYEES, THERE WAS A GROWING NEED TO IMPROVE QUALITY BOTH IN THE PRODUCT ITSELF AND IN THE WORKING SITUATION, TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND TO ENDEAVOUR, WITH THE EMPLOYERS, TO MEET DEADLINES AND OTHER BUSINESS COMMITMENTS.

*IN OTHER WORDS, HE SAID, IN THE FACE OF EXTERNAL PRESSURES AND ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTIES THERE IS AN INCREASING NEED FOR BOTH SIDES OF INDUSTRY TO RECOGNISE THEIR MUTUAL DEPENDENCE AND THE COVERGENCE OF THEIR INTERESTS AND TO OVERCOME SUCH DIFFICULTIES BY WORKING TOGETHER..

IN THIS CONNECTION, MR HENDERSON EXTENDED A PLEA TO A MINORITY OF EMPLOYERS WHO HAD LATELY BEEN RATHER VOCAL IN THEIR CONCERN ABOUT SOME ITEMS OF LABOUR LEGISLATION.

/IN HONG