XN000022-1992-01-29 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1992

RIGHTS AND INTERESTS OF LOCAL WORKERS WILL NOT BE NEGLECTED

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THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT NEGLECT THE RIGHTS AND INTERESTS OF LOCAL WORKERS - UNDER THE CONTINUED LABOUR IMPORTATION SCHEME, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN, REASSURED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

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DURING THE MOTION DEBATE ON IMPORTATION OF LABOUR, MR CHAN EMPHASISED THAT THERE WAS BUILT-IN MECHANISM WITHIN THE PROTECT THE JOB OPPORTUNITIES OF LOCAL WORKERS AS WELL AS FOR TRAINING AND RETRAINING.

SCHEME ΤΟ PROVISIONS

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ADDRESSING MEMBERS' CONCERN THAT IMPORTATION OF LABOUR ADVERSELY AFFECT AGED WORKERS, MR CHAN PROMISED THAT

GOVERNMENT WOULD PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF LOCAL WORKERS WHO WERE AGED AND WHO HAD LIMITED EDUCATION BACKGROUND IN IMPLEMENTING THE RETRAINING PROGRAMME.

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"WE SHALL ALSO APPLY DUE DILIGENCE IN VETTING THE APPLICATIONS FOR IMPORTATION OF LABOUR TO ENSURE THAT EMPLOYERS HAVE NOT RESORT LAYING OFF LOCAL WORKERS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, HE SAID.

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HE URGED EMPLOYERS TO APPLY FLEXIBILITY AND RELAXATION SETTING THE CRITERIA REGARDING AGE AND EDUCATION BACKGROUND CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS FROM LOCAL WORKERS

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RESPONDED THOSE VACANCIES REGISTERED WITH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

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MR CHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD DECIDED TO ADOPT MEASURES то STRENGTHEN THE PROVISION OF TRAINING AND RETRAINING FOR LOCAL WORKERS.

WHILST WORKERS UNDERGOING TRAINING OR RETRAINING WILL BE GIVEN AN APPROPRIATE ALLOWANCE SO THAT THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR LIVELIHOOD, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN RETRAINED WILL ALSO BE ASSISTED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN FINDING NEW JOBS.

HE SAID SOME MEMBERS OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD HAD ALREADY BEEN INVITED TO SIT ON THE PROVISIONAL RETRAINING FUND BOARD WHICH WOULD BE SET UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

"WE SHALL START WORK IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS AND IDENTIFY PRACTICAL RETRAINING NEEDS OF BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES BEFORE COMING UP WITH THE MOST SUITABLE

WE PROGRAMMES. EXPECT THAT COURSES WILL START SHORTLY,' HE SAID.

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SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, HE SAID GOVERNMENT WAS WILLING TO ADVANCE THE MONEY NEEDED FOR THE COURSES BEFORE THE QUOTA LEVY COULD BE COLLECTED FROM EMPLOYERS UNDER THE LABOUR IMPORTATION SCHEME, SO THAT THE RETRAINING PROGRAMME COULD TAKE OFF SMOOTHLY.

MR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT NEW MEASURES HAD BEEN ADOPTED UNDER THE SCHEME TO GIVE LOCAL WORKERS PRIORITY IN FILLING JOB VACANCIES.

/HE SAID