XN000022-1987-03-02 — Page 12

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 1987

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LAB MEMBERS DISCUSS WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES

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THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD MET THIS (MONDAY) AFTERNOON TO DISCUSS A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES RELATING TO LABOUR MATTERS AND LEGISLATION.

DURING THE MEETING, CHAIRED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR TONY HAMMOND, THE BOARD AGREED TO SEND A DELEGATION TO ATTEND THE 73RD SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN GENEVA BETWEEN JUNE 3 AND 24 THIS YEAR.

THE HONG KONG DELEGATION WOULD COMPRISE THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, A REPRESENTATIVE OF EMPLOYEES, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF EMPLOYERS.

THE BOARD THEN ENDORSED A PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE WAGE CEILING FOR NON-MANUAL WORKERS UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE FROM $10 500 TO $11 500 A MONTH TO KEEP IN PACE WITH THE GENERAL WAGE MOVEMENTS.

IT ALSO AGREED THAT THE MAXIMUM LIMIT FOR THE ADVANCE PAYMENT TO AN INJURED WORKER OR HIS DEPENDENTS UNDER THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE BE RAISED FROM $10 000 TO $20 000, SUBJECT TO THE WHOLE OR ANY PART OF SUCH PAYMENT WOULD BE DEDUCTED FROM THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION PAYABLE TO THE EMPLOYEE EVENTUALLY.

ALSO UNDER THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE, MEMBERS SUPPORTED A MINOR MODIFICATION OF THE PROPOSAL TO EXTEND THE SCOPE OF THE ORDINANCE TO COVER HONG KONG WORKERS WORKING OUTSIDE HONG KONG.

MEMBERS FURTHER CONSIDERED A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS TO REVISE THE LEVELS OF MAXIMUM FINES FOR CONTRAVENTION OF OFFENCES UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS AND TO INTRODUCE CUSTODIAL SENTENCES AS A DETERRENT MEASURE.

MEMBERS EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE INTRODUCTION OF CUSTODIAL SENTENCE BUT THEY WERE ASSURED THAT PROSECUTIONS AGAINST EMPLOYERS UNDER THE ORDINANCE WOULD ONLY BE USED AS A LAST RESORT AGAINST BLATANT OFFENDERS IN VERY SERIOUS CASES.

THE BOARD EXAMINED AMENDMENTS TO THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE WHICH LAID DOWN SPECIFICALLY THE GENERAL DUTIES OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES IN RESPECT OF SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK. THE PROPOSED PROVISIONS ALSO PROVIDED FOR CUSTODIAL PENALTIES FOR CONTRAVENTION OF CERTAIN OFFENCES UNDER THE ORDINANCE.

MEMBERS WERE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES SHOULD HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY IN INDUSTRIAL SAFETY. THEY SUGGESTED THAT BOTH PARTIES SHOULD BE SUBJECTED TO CUSTODIAL PENALTIES AND THAT THIS SHOULD BE WRITTEN DOWN IN THE LEGISLATION.

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