Mr. H.H. Stewart.
Reference...
Hong Kong Department.
K.C.S.
5
Overtime Work by Women and Young Persons.
Further to my minute of 19 January, the latest report on overtime worked is now in from Hong Kong for the six month period up to September 1969. These figures can only serve to accentuate our disquiet. Although there is a marginal drop in the number of women and young persons employed on overtime (from 58,212 to 56,141), the numbers employed in the range 91-120 hours has risen from 4,419 to 5,157, and in the range 121-201 has dramatically increased from 3,090 to 8,250, i.e. it has almost trebled.
2. As the maximum number of hours that may be worked as overtime, with effect from 1 December 1969, is 240 per annum, large numbers of women and young persons seem to be employed at or near this limit in a single period of six months. As you will appreciate, the larger amount of over- time authorised, the greater the difficulty Inspectors have in keeping a check on it, and if the present trend continues it will be difficult for the Department of Labour, with its existing Inspectorate staff andorganisation, to keep control. There are now 801 factories involved in overtime as compared with 369 in 1967 - more than 400 extra factories to keep an eye on.
(G. Foggon)
22 January 1970.
P
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