XN000022-1984-02-15 — Page 23

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1984

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LABOUR EDUCATION PROMOTED

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IT HAS LONG BEEN THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO DO ITS BEST TO PROMOTE LABOUR EDUCATION AMONG LOCAL WORKERS, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON RON BRIDGE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION ON THE SUBJECT BY THE HON ANDREW SO.

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAD A SPECIAL UNIT DEDICATED TO PROMOTING LABOUR EDUCATION AMONG LOCAL WORKERS, AND IN 1983 IT ORGANISED COURSES AND SEMINARS FOR MORE THAN 1200 EMPLOYEES AND TRADE UNION OFFICIALS, MR BRIDGE SAID.

IN ADDITION, INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT GAVE MORE THAN 100 TALKS AND LECTURES TO TRADE UNIONS AND SIMILAR GROUPS AND AT SEMINARS ORGANISED BY SUCH BODIES AS THE HONG KONG MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION. THESE TALKS COVERED SUCH SUBJECTS AS LABOUR RELATIONS, LABOUR LEGISLATION INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONVENTIONS, PARTICULARLY THOSE AFFECTING THE RIGHTS OF UNIONS AND THEIR MEMBERS.

THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD'S COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND ACCIDENT PREVENTION ALSO REGULARLY ORGANISED INDUSTRIAL SAFETY SEMINARS. MORE THAN 700 EMPLOYEES AND MIDDLE MANAGERS TOOK PART IN FOUR SUCH SEMINARS IN 1983.

MR BRIDGE POINTED OUT THAT WHENEVER NEW LABOUR LEGISLATION WAS ENACTED OR EXIST NG LABOUR LEGISLATION WAS AMENDED, EXTENSIVE PUBLICITY WAS MOUNTED MAINLY BY MEANS OF POSTERS, PRESS RELEASES AND TELEVISION INTERVIEWS.

IN ADDITION, THE DEPARTMENT ALSO PREPARED SIMPLE BOOKLETS IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH, WHICH WERE DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE AND WERE BACKED UP BY TALKS TO MANAGERS AND TRADE UNION OFFICIALS.

THE REGISTRAR OF TRADE UNIONS AND HIS STAFF REGULARLY VISITED TRADE UNIONS TO ADVISE ON UNION LEGISLATION AND ON THEIR INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION. SOME 330 SUCH VISITS WERE MADE IN 1983.

SINCE AUGUST 1983, THE REGISTRY OF TRADE UNIONS HAD BEEN ORGANISING SHORT COURSES FOR TRADE UNION LEADERS ON TRADE UNION ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL TRADE UNION ADMINISTRATION. IN ADDITION, IT WOULD SHORTLY BE PUBLISHING A SERIES OF FREE LEAFLETS ON TRADE UNION ADMINISTRATION, MR BRIDGE ADDED.

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