XN000022-1986-11-05 — Page 9

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1986

LONG-TERM LABOUR POLICY NEEDED

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THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER SERIOUSLY THE FORMULATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE LABOUR POLICY, THE HON TAM Y1U-CHUNG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING DURING THE DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS, HE SAID THE POLICY SHOULD INCLUDE THE BETTERMENT OF LABOUR-EMPLOYER RELATIONSHIPS, AN OVERALL REVIEW OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, IMPROVEMENTS IN LABOUR SAFETY AND PROTECTION FOR EMPLOYEES AFTER RETIREMENT.

+A GOOD LABOUR-EMPLOYER RELATIONSHIP SHOULD BE CONCRETELY REFLECTED IN SUFFICIENT DIALOGUES BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES, WHO SHOULD ADOPT AN ATTITUDE OF MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND MUTUAL CONCESSION, HE SAID.

+COMMUNICATING ON AN EQUAL BASIS AFFIRMING THE STATUS OF LABOUR UNIONS AND THE RIGHT OF COLLECTIVE NEGOTIATION WOULD BE AN EFFECTIVE MEANS TO PROMOTE A SOUND LABOUR-EMPLOYER RELATIONSHIP,+ HE SAID.

ON THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WHICH HAD BEEN ENACTED ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO, HE SAID SOME OF ITS PROVISIONS COULD NO LONGER MEET CURRENT PRACTICAL REQUIREMENTS AND AN OVERALL REVIEW WAS NECESSARY.

MR TAM ALSO CALLED FOR A REVIEW OF LEGISLATION ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.

ON THE SUBJECT OF SAFEGUARDING THE LIVELIHOOD OF EMPLOYEES AFTER RETIREMENT, MR TAM CALLED FOR THE EARLY ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND.

HE REQUESTED THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE PUBLIC THE RESEARCH DOCUMENT ON THE FUND COMPLETED RECENTLY AND TO CARRY OUT EXTENSIVE CONSULTATIONS.

TURNING TO ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, MR TAM SAID DURING THIS TRANSITIONAL PERIOD THERE WERE STILL MANY AREAS IN ECONOMIC AFFAIRS AND IN SOCIAL PROGRAMMES WHICH REQUIRED IMPROVEMENT,

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ATTACH DUE IMPORTANCE TO THESE AREAS.

HE FELT THAT IN RECENT YEARS THE GOVERNMENT HAD PLACED MORE EMPHASIS ON THE FINANCIAL SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY WHILE ITS EFFORTS IN PROMOTING INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT HAD BEEN LESS ACTIVE.

HE REQUESTED THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER SETTING UP A CO-ORDINATING BODY TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FORMULATING AND ENFORCING LONG-TERM, COMPREHENSIVE AND BALANCED POLICIES ON INDUSTRY AND TRADE.

/MR TAM