XN000022-1992-02-28 — Page 3

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1992

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OVER 98,000 VACANCIES AVAILABLE TO LOCAL WORKERS

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED 98,018 JOB VACANCIES FROM 8,807 EMPLOYERS INTENDING TO BRING IN FOREIGN WORKERS UNDER THE GENERAL IMPORTATION OF LABOUR SCHENE AT THE CLOSE OF APPLICATION TODAY (FRIDAY).

THESE VACANCIES INCLUDED 23,294 IN THE CATERING INDUSTRY, 18,474 IN THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY, 11,303 IN THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL INDUSTRY AND 10,273 IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

THE OTHERS ARE DISTRIBUTED MANUFACTURING AND SERVICE SECTORS.

IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES IN THE

"THESE VACANCIES WILL BE OFFERED FIRST ΤΟ JOB-SEEKERS REGISTERED WITH OUR LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE (LES), AS REQUIRED UNDER THE SCHEME," ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR MR ALFRED CHAN SAID.

ΤΟ

H

"OUR STAFF ARE NOW GOING THROUGH RECORDS OF JOB-REGISTRANTS IDENTIFY SUITABLE CANDIDATES FOR REFERRAL TO PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS, MR CHAN SAID.

FOR LOCAL

HE STRESSED THAT WHEN PROCESSING VACANCIES, LES STAFF WOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE JOB SPECIFICATIONS AND CRITERIA SET WORKERS IN EACH CASE TO SEE IF THEY MATCH AND WOULD SUBMIT ΤΟ THE EMPLOYMENT VISA CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

A REPORT (EVCC) WITH ITS

SET EXCESSIVELY

"IF AN EMPLOYER IS FOUND TO HAVE DELIBERATELY RESTRICTIVE CRITERIA NOT COMMENSURATE WITH THE NATURE OF THE JOB FOR LOCAL WORKERS, OR REFUSES TO TAKE ON LOCAL WORKERS WITHOUT GOOD REASONS, HIS APPLICATION FOR QUOTA ALLOCATION UNDER THE SCHEME MAY BE REJECTED," HE SAID.

"THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL LOCAL WORKERS ARE GIVEN A FAIR CHANCE TO CHOOSE A JOB BEFORE APPROVAL 18 GIVEN FOR EMPLOYERS TO IMPORT WORKERS,' HE ADDED.

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COMMENTING ON REPORTS THAT SOME EMPLOYERS MAY OVERSTATE THEIR REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPORTED WORKERS, MR CHAN SAID THE EVAL WOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT AN APPLICANT'S SCALE OF OPERATION WHEN CONSIDERING HIS APPLICATION.

"THE SIZE OF A QUOTA TO BE ALLOCATED TO AN EMPLOYER UNDER THE SCHEME WILL HAVE NO DIRECT BEARING ON THE NUMBER OF IMPORTED WORKERS HE APPLIES FOR, MR CHAN SAID, ADDING THAT THE EVC IS CONCERNED ONLY WITH AN APPLICANT'S ACTUAL REQUIREMENT.

HE ALSO REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT SHOULD THEY BE ALLOCATED A QUOTA EVENTUALLY, THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY A LUMP SUM LEVY IN RESPECT EACH IMPORTED WORKER.

OF

/"THE LEVY,