gainfully employed at all times. The lack of progress has also been
due to Hong Kong's uncertain economic prospects during the past few
years. The increasing restrictions imposed by developed countries,
e.g. U.K. and U.S.A. on imports of Hong Kong goods, the 15 per cent U.K.
temporary import surcharge which has recently been removed, and the past
and present proposals for Britain's entry into the Common Market, have
all led to a lack of confidence in Hong Kong as to the Colony's ability
to retain its overseas markets.
3.
It
In practice there has been some voluntary reduction in hours
below the legal maximum. Eight hour shifts are standard in the cotton
spinning industry and in the modern weaving factories which employ
over 70 per cent of the total labour force of the weaving industry.
is in the garment industry which contains many small and family businesses
that opposition to shorter working hours has been most adamant and it is,
of course, just in such concerns that the increased labour costs involved
are most difficult to absorb.
4.
The se
The present position is that the Hong Kong Government proposes
to disregard the report of a Working Party consisting of representatives
of employers' organisations under the chairmanship of the Commissioner
of Labour which recommended against legislation for a further reduction
of hours of work at this time. It is proposed to support recommendations,
made in a minority report by the Commissioner of Labour, to make
statutory orders for reduced hours of work in selected industries.
orders would, in the first instance, be made for those industries
where an eight hour day and 48 hour week were already the general
practice. The drafting of a memorandum for presentation to the
Executive Council is nearing completion, but in view of the opposition
to be expected it would be hazardous to estimate how soon the proposals
/that
1
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.