XN000022-1993-03-28 — Page 2

SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 1993

FACTORIES REMINDED NOT TO ENGAGE WOMEN

IN UNREPORTED OVERTIME WORK

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THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (SUNDAY) REMINDED FACTORY OWNERS NOT TO ENGAGE WOMEN IN WORK OUTSIDE THEIR NORMAL PERMITTED PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT.

HEAVY FINES WERE RECENTLY IMPOSED ON THREE FACTORIES. OF THESE, A PLASTIC TOYS FACTORY WAS GIVEN THE MAXIMUM FINE OF $10,000 TWICE BY KWUN TONG MAGISTRATES, FOR SUCH OFFENCE UNDER THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS.

THE COMPANY WAS ALSO FINED $1,500 FOR EMPLOYING FIVE YOUNG PERSONS TO WORK OVERTIME.

DURING ROUTINE INSPECTIONS, LABOUR INSPECTORS FOUND THAT THE NEW BRIGHT INDUSTRIAL COMPANY LIMITED IN KOWLOON BAY HAD ENGAGED, ON OCCASIONS, WORKERS IN UNREPORTED OVERTIME WORK. THE FIRST GROUP INCLUDED 140 WOMEN AND FIVE YOUNG PERSONS, AND THE SECOND 105 WOMEN.

IN THE OTHER CASE, A KWUN TONG MAGISTRATE IMPOSED A FINE OF $8,000 ON THE OCEAN OFFICE AUTOMATION LIMITED IN KAI CHEUNG ROAD FOR ENGAGING 40 WOMEN IN OVERTIME WORK.

THE CIJ CREATION INDUSTRIES LIMITED IN SHAM SHUI PO, WHICH EMPLOYED 35 WOMEN IN UNREPORTED OVERTIME WORK, WAS FINED $7,000 BY A NORTH KOWLOON MAGISTRATE.

SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER (LABOUR INSPECTION), MR CHAN KWOK-KUEN, SAID: "IT IS AN OFFENCE UNDER THE LAW FOR AN EMPLOYER TO CHANGE THE PRESCRIBED WORKING HOURS OF WOMEN IN INDUSTRY OR TO ENGAGE THEM IN OVERTIME WORK, WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT BEFOREHAND."

THE LAW ALSO REQUIRES THE EMPLOYER TO DISPLAY IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE IN THE FACTORY A PRESCRIBED NOTICE SETTING OUT THE PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT, INTERVALS FOR MEALS OR REST, AND REST DAY FOR WOMEN WORKERS.

"EMPLOYERS SHOULD STRICTLY ADHERE TO THE PERMISSIBLE HOURS OF WORK SET OUT IN THE PRESCRIBED NOTICE, MR CHAN SAID.

ALSO,

"

YOUNG PERSONS SHOULD NOT BE EMPLOYED TO WORK OVERTIME IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS, HE ADDED.

ANY EMPLOYER WHO MAXIMUM FINE OF $10,000.

BREACHES THE REGULATIONS IS LIABLE ΤΟ A

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