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Hong Kong working days lost among the lowest in the world

The small number of working days lost in the local labour market is among the lowest in the world - thanks to the hard work by staff of the Labour Relations Division (LRD) of the Labour Department.

Chief Labour Officer of the Labour Department, Mrs Jennie Chan, said today (Sunday): "The labour relations scene in 1996 was harmonious and stable. In 1996, the number of working days lost due to labour disputes was 0.99 per 1,000 wage earners and salaried employees which is among the lowest in the world."

She said the LRD provided free consultation service and voluntary conciliation service to employers and employees.

"The conciliation officers act as a neutral intermediary to help employers and employees understand their problems and assist them to reach mutually acceptable settlements.

"During the year, LRD handled 117,719 consultations and conciliated in 226 labour disputes as well as 22,840 employment claims. The average settlement rate was 65 per cent and the LRD has assisted employees in receiving a total amount of $247 million.

"Among the 226 trade disputes, 112 were cases involving cessation of business and insolvency, representing about 50 per cent of the total number of disputes handled by the Division," she said.

Turning to promotional activities, Mrs Chan said that the LRD also organised promotional activities at district level, like Personnel Managers' Clubs, seminars on Human Resources Management and Certificate Courses on the Employment Ordinance, etc.

She said officers from the LRD also maintained close contacts with human resources practitioners and introduced to them the latest amendments to labour legislation and enlightened management practices.

"Additionally, the Division will strengthen its liaison with trade unions. It plans to build up an electronic data bank on trade union officials with their names and contact telephones and addresses.

"This will facilitate quick contacts when major labour disputes break out suddenly and this will enhance the chances of early settlement of such disputes," she said.

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