TNAG-0125-FCO40-161-Labour-force-working-conditions-1969 — Page 80

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In Europe, night work is prohibited in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland, with exceptions for certain industries. Some Scandivanian countries such as Finland and Sweden also provide exceptions, and it is reported that in Finland there has been an increasing tendency to employ women on night

shifts.

Among East European countries, Bulgaria applies prohibi- tion only to pregnant women and nursing mothers. Hungary permits women to work at night up to 16 weeks in the year on the 48-hour system and up to 12 weeks on the 40-hour week system. Czechoslovakia enforces compulsory rest period from 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. Yugoslavia provides exceptions subject to prescribed authorization.

While information is incomplete as regards the kind of legislation in force elsewhere, it may be said in general that most countries provide for some degree of flexibility in the application of laws prohibiting night work for women. In such cases discretionary authority is conferred on the administrator of the law to grant exemptions.

It is interesting to note that in Nationalist China the textile industry in particular has been granted exemption. Similar applications by industries other than the textile industry for such exemption are understood to have been rejected.

III.

Present Regulations Under Hongkong Law

Women workers employed in industrial undertakings in Hongkong are by law allowed to work between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. On overtime, however, they may work up to 9 p.m.

In the case of production on three-shift basis, as in textile mills, their working hour is extended to 11 p.m. The morning shift starts at 7 a.m.

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On night shifts women are only permitted to serve as supervisors who may not perform manual work. Their function is to supervise and give guidance to operatives in the process of manufacture. The number of such supervisors is relatively limited, and permits have to be applied for approval by the Commissioner of Labour.

But it is also permissible under existing statute for the Commissioner to grant special exemption to an industrial under- taking from any one of the regulations including those prohibiting women from night work. The Factories & Industrial Undertakings

Ordinance by virtue of section 7 (4) provides that:

The Commissioner of Labour in such cases as he shall think fit may, for such period and subject to such conditions as he may specify, exempt any industrial undertaking from any regulation made under this Ordinance or may order the adoption of any special precautions in addition to any precautions required by any regulation made under this Ordinance."

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