XN000022-1989-05-03 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1989

"THIS IS RATHER IN THE REALM OF LAWYER'S LAW'," HE SAID.

"HOWEVER, IF AN AMENDMENT IS NECESSARY A SUITABLE BILL WILL INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL," HE ADDED.

BE

MR TSAO SAID THE AREAS OF CONCERN WERE ALREADY CONTROLLED UNDER THE LAW WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SEGREGATION OF VIDEO RENTAL OUTLETS WOULD GIVE INTO CHILDREN'S AND ADULTS' SECTIONS WHICH, HE BELIEVED, RISE TO INSURMOUNTABLE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES.

EMPLOYERS URGED TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE IN WORK ARRANGEMENTS

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IS TAKING A NUMBER OF STEPS TO ENCOURAGE EMPLOYERS TO INTRODUCE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN WORK ARRANGEMENTS, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE INFORMED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON ELSIE TU ON THE CURRENT MANPOWER SHORTAGE PROBLEM, MR BRIDGE SAID THAT THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS HAD BEEN AMENDED IN FEBRUARY 1988 TO ALLOW FOR MORE FLEXIBILITY ON OVERTIME WORK FOR WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.

"THE DEPARTMENT IS PROMOTING THE USE OF "FLEXI-TIME" AS AN ATTRACTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO THE RIGID "NINE TO FIVE" PATTERN.

"IT ALSO ENCOURAGES EMPLOYERS TO EMPLOY PART-TIME WORKERS TO INTRODUCE JOB-SHARING SCHEMES.

AND

"THE DEPARTMENT'S LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE ADVISES EMPLOYERS TO RECRUIT PART-TIME WORKERS TO FILL FULL-TIME JOB VACANCIES WHICH HAVE BEEN LEFT VACANT FOR SOME TIME, MR BRIDGE SAID.

**

HE NOTED THAT THE LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE HAD PLACED A TOTAL OF 2,224 JOB SEEKERS IN PART-TIME JOBS IN 1988.

HAD

MR BRIDGE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WELL-ESTABLISHED ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF PART-TIME AND

TEMPORARY STAFF.

FF

"SOME OF THESE ARE EMPLOYED ON A JOB SHARING BASIS, HE ADDED.

"SUCH ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE EITHER BECAUSE THE NATURE OF WORK DOES NOT WARRANT THE EMPLOYMENT OF PERMANENT STAFF ON A FULL-TIME BASIS OR AS A RESULT OF STAFF SHORTAGES.

"EXAMPLES INCLUDE