XN000022-1993-07-26 — Page 3

MONDAY, JULY 26, 1993

2

CUT IN UNHCR REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE WELCOMED

* *

HE

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THIS (MONDAY) MORNING THAT WELCOMED THE DECISION TO REDUCE THE LEVEL OF UNHCR REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE PAID TO VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS RETURNING HOME.

"WE WERE CONSULTED ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE, AND THREW OUR WEIGHT BEHIND IT. WE HOPE THAT THE REDUCTION WILL INJECT NEW MOMENTUM INTO THE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME," HE SAID.

LAB SUPPORTS PROPOSALS TO BETTER PROTECT WORKERS

A

LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD (LAB) MEMBERS TODAY (MONDAY) SUPPORTED NUMBER OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE LABOUR LAWS TO FURTHER IMPROVE WORKERS SAFETY AND HEALTH AS WELL AS BENEFITS.

AT A MEETING CHAIRED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MRS KATHERINE FOK, BOARD MEMBERS AGREED TO PROCEED WITH THE DRAFTING OF A NEW PROVISION IN SECTION 5 OF THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE (ECO) TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION TO EMPLOYEES WHO ARE INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT ON THEIR WAY TO AND FROM WORK WHEN TYPHOON SIGNAL NO. 8 OR ABOVE, OR RED OR BLACK RAINSTORM SIGNAL, IS ISSUED.

DURING THE MEETING, MEMBERS DISCUSSED A PROPOSAL TO SET UP A MINOR WAGE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT SERVICE (MWCSS).

UNDER THE PROPOSAL, THE MWCSS SHALL BE SEPARATE INDEPENDENT OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE (LRS).

FROM AND

IT IS INTENDED TO BE A QUICK AND SIMPLE SERVICE то ADJUDICATE MINOR WAGE CLAIMS ARISING FROM DISPUTES OF STATUTORY OR CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS OF EMPLOYMENT WHEN SETTLEMENT CANNOT BE ACHIEVED THROUGH CONCILIATION RENDERED BY THE LRS.

THE TYPES OF CLAIMS TO BE DETERMINED BY THE PROPOSED MWCSS INCLUDE THOSE INVOLVING NOT MORE THAN FIVE CLAIMANTS AND FOR EACH CLAIMANT THE AMOUNT OF CLAIM DOES NOT EXCEED $5,000.

A YEAR.

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE MWCSS WILL HANDLE ABOUT 1,300 CASES

BOARD MEMBERS AGREED TO AMEND THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS TO PROHIBIT THE EMPLOYMENT OF YOUNG PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 IN CONSTRUCTION SITES.

AND

COMPLETED FULL-TIME

THEY WERE BRIEFED THAT IN ORDER NOT TO AFFECT THE TRAINING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES OF YOUNG PERSONS, IT IS CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO GRANT EXEMPTION TO THOSE WHO ARE UNDERGOING OR HAVE REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP, AND THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVED TRAINING FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS FROM THE CONSTRUCTION TRAINING AUTHORITY OR UNDERGOING ON-SITE TRAINING PART OF THE FULL-TIME TRAINING BEING SUPERVISED INSTRUCTOR OF THE AUTHORITY.

AS AN BY

INDUSTRY

INTEGRAL

A QUALIFIED

/THEY ALSO