XN000022-1989-06-22 — Page 17

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THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 1989

IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY MAXIMISES LABOUR RESOURCES

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A SATISIFIED, WELL-MOTIVATED AND DEDICATED WORKFORCE SHOULD ALWAYS BE THE FIRST TARGET FOR EMPLOYERS WHO AIM ΤΟ IMPROVE THE PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY OF THEIR BUSINESS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR TONY HAMMOND, TODAY (THURSDAY) AT THE OPENING OF THE FIRST OF TWO SYMPOSIA ON EFFICIENT UTILISATION OF HUMAN RESOURCES ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

COULD

MR HAMMOND STRESSED THAT IMPROVEMENT IN PRODUCTIVITY NEVER BE ACHIEVED COMPLETELY WITHOUT DUE CONSIDERATION OF THE HUMAN FACTOR.

"IN OTHER WORDS, IN ANY SCHEME TO BOOST PRODUCTIVITY, THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE EMPLOYEES MUST BE SECURED, AND WITHOUT WHICH, MACHINES AND PROCEDURES CANNOT BE PUT TO THEIR BEST USE, HE SAID.

#4

MR HAMMOND ALSO POINTED OUT THAT A TIGHT LABOUR SUPPLY AND HIGH STAFF TURNOVER WERE A PREDICTABLE RESULT OF PROSPERITY AND SUCCESS IN A FREE MARKET ECONOMY LIKE HONG KONG'S.

"IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE COMPANIES HAVE TO OTHER FOR SCARCE HUMAN RESOURCES, MUCH HAS TO BE NOT ONLY TO ATTRACT AND RECRUIT EMPLOYEES OF THE ALSO TO TRAIN THEM AND RETAIN THEM.

COMPETE WITH BACH DONE BY EMPLOYERS RIGHT CALIBRE, BUT

EMPLOYEES AND

'WHILE AN IMPROVED REMUNERATION PACKAGE FOR INCREASED TRAINING UNDOUBTEDLY ADD TO THE RUNNING COSTS OF A BUSINESS, IT IS UP TO THE EMPLOYER TO FIND WAYS AND MEANS OF UTILISING HIS SCARCE HUMAN RESOURCES EFFICIENTLY SO THAT HIS BUSINESS CAN REMAIN BUOYANT AND RETAIN A COMPETITIVE EDGE OVER OTHERS.

"IN THIS RESPECT IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY BECOMES A KEY ISSUE."

MR HAMMOND SAID IT WAS AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND THAT THE TWO SYMPOSIA WERE ORGANISED TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR INTERESTED PARTIES FROM DIFFERENT TRADES AND INDUSTRIES TO DISCUSS VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE PROBLEMS COMMONLY FACED BY THEM.

PROMINENT GUEST SPEAKERS FROM VARIOUS SECTORS WHO HAVE TRIED OUT DIFFERENT SCHEMES TO IMPROVE LABOUR EFFICIENCY AND HAVE BEEN INVITED TO TALK IN THE SYMPOSIA.

PRODUCTIVITY

/TODAY'S SYMPOSIUM,