XN000022-1994-12-24+25 — Page 2

MECAB to adjudicate minor employment claims

The Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board (MECAB) is set up to provide a quick, simple and inexpensive adjudication service to augment that of the Labour Tribunal so that the latter can concentrate on more complicated cases, the Commissioner for Labour, Mr Stephen Ip, said today (Saturday).

The MECAB, established by the Labour Department under the MECAB Ordinance, came into operation yesterday (Friday).

The board will adjudicate minor claims arising from disputes of statutory or contractual rights of employment when settlement of such disputes cannot be achieved through conciliation of the department's Labour Relations Service (LRS).

"Claims involving not more than five claimants and the amount of claim for each claimant not exceeding $5,000 will fall within the jurisdiction of the MECAB," Mr Ip said.

A number of Senior Labour Officers with adequate experience in labour laws and labour relations in Hong Kong have been appointed adjudication officers. They have been trained especially in the legal aspect of the job before taking up the appointment.

manner.

Mr Ip said hearings would be conducted in public in a simple and informal

Either Chinese or English can be used during a hearing and no legal representation is allowed.

Mr Ip pointed out that the decisions of the adjudication officers could be reviewed.

"The adjudication officer may, on his own motion or on the application of a party to a claim, review an award made by him within 14 days.

"Parties to a claim may also appeal to the High Court against the adjudication officer's decision on the ground of point of law or question of jurisdiction," he explained.

Mr Ip urged parties to a dispute to approach the Labour Relations Service for conciliation service before lodging their claims with MECAB.