XN000022-1986-04-14 — Page 15

MONDAY, APRIL 14, 1986

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BOARD ENDORSES RETIREMENT SCHEME PROPOSALS

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THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD TODAY (MONDAY) ENDORSED PROPOSALS THAT THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE STAFF RETIREMENT SCHEMES INVOLVING WAGE DEDUCTIONS TO BE APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR: LABOUR.

THE PROPOSALS WOULD ALSO REQUIRE EMPLOYERS TO INFORM CONTRIBUTING EMPLOYEES OF THEIR ENTITLEMENTS UNDER THE SCHEMES.

AT A MEETING THIS AFTERNOON, THE BOARD ALSO CONSIDERED AN EARLIER PROPOSAL TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF +CONTINUOUS CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT+ UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.

IT ADVISED THAT THE PROPOSAL SHOULD BE REFERRED TO ITS LABOUR RELATIONS COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION, INCLUDING DISCUSSION OF MEASURES TO INDUCE INDIVIDUAL INDUSTRIES TO DRAW UP COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS TO EXTEND BENEFITS UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE TO PART-TIME EMPLOYEES WITH A REGULAR EMPLOYMENT PATTERN.

THE BOARD AGREED THAT AMENDMENTS SHOULD BE MADE TO THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE TO EXTEND ITS SCOPE TO COVER ACCIDENTS TO EMPLOYEES ENGAGED TO WORK OUTSIDE HONG KONG.

MEMBERS ALSO DISCUSSED SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES RELATING TO LABOUR MATTERS AND LEGISLATION DURING THE MEETING, WHICH WAS CHAIRED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR RON BRIDGE.

PLASTICS INDUSTRY MUST UPGRADE PRODUCTS *****

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TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE. THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY MUST UPGRADE PRODUCTS AND UPDATE MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES AND FACILITIES BY INVESTING IN NEW PLANT, MACHINERY AND TECHNICAL MANPOWER TRAINING, A MANPOWER SURVEY REPORT HAS STATED.

THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL ALSO CONCLUDED IN ITS RECENTLY PUBLISHED REPORT THAT THE INDUSTRY, THE TOY SECTOR IN PARTICULAR, WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AT A MODEST PACE, DESPITE THE LESS THAN SATISFACTORY EXPORT PERFORMANCE IN THE FIRST HALF OF 1985.

+ACCORDING TO FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY CONDUCTED IN JUNE 1985, THE BOARD FORECAST THAT THE ANNUAL GROWTH RATE OF THE MANPOWER NEEDS FOR THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY WOULD BE 11 PER CENT, FOUR PER CENT AND SIX PER CENT FOR THE LEVELS OF TECHNOLOGIST, TECHNICIAN AND CRAFTSMAN RESPECTIVELY IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS,+ SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BOARD.

/TO ENSURE