XN000022-1985-02-03 — Page 5

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1985

THE LAS ALSO PROVIDED CONCILIATION FOR 17 560 CLAIMS IN CONNECTION WITH PROVISIONS OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE OR TERMS OF CONTRACTS OF EMPLOYMENT: 13 260 OR 75.5 PER CENT WERE SETTLED AND MOST OF THE REMAINDER WERE REFERRED TO THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL FOR JUDICIAL DECISION.

MR CHAN SAID A TOTAL OF 19 051 WORKERS RECEIVED $46 MILLION FROM THEIR EMPLOYERS LAST YEAR AFTER THE IR LABOUR-MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS WERE SETTLED THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE LRS.

OF THIS SUM, $12 395 593 OR 27 PER CENT WAS SEVERANCE PAYMENTS MADE TO 3 005 EMPLOYEES RENDERED REDUNDANT BY OPERATIONAL OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES; THE REMAINING $34 039 651 WAS PAID OUT AS ARREARS OF WAGES, WAGES IN LIEU OF NOTICE, STATUTORY HOLIDAY PAY, BONUSES AND OTHER PAYMENTS.

IN THE SAME YEAR, MR CHAN ADDED, THE LRS INVESTIGATED 188 MAJOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT ALLEGED BREACHES OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, SUCH AS FAILURE TO PROVIDE REST DAYS, HOLIDAYS WITH PAY, ANNUAL LEAVE WITH PAY AND IMPROPER DEDUCTIONS OF WAGES.

DURING THE YEAR, THE LRS ALSO HANDLED 391 677 ENQUIRIES AND CONSULTATIONS, COMPARED WITH 302 277 CASES IN 1983. MOST OF THESE CONCERNED PROVISIONS IN THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND OTHER MATTERS CONCERNING LABOUR RELATIONS.

→THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ENQUIRIES AND CONSULTATIONS REFLECTS THE GROWING IMPORTANCE ATTACHED TO LABOUR RELATIONS AND EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS BY BOTH EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS,+ MR CHAN SAID.

FIRST LAND AUCTION OF THE YEAR

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THE LANDS DEPARTMENT IS TO OFFER FIVE LOTS FOR SALE AT THE FIRST PUBLIC LAND AUCTION OF THE YEAR TO BE HELD IN THE JADE BALLROOM OF THE FURAMA HOTEL AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW (MONDAY).

TWO OF THE SITES ARE IN KOWLOON, ONE ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND TWO IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

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