TNAG-0434-FCO40-499-UK-interest-in-labour-and-social-affairs-of-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 85

LABOUR AFFAIRS

Issues that could be raised are:

Child labour, fall in real wages (drop of 11.3% in the year up to March 1973), no minimum wages, no maximum hours of work for males

over 18.

At the Trade Union Congress in September, a resolution

was endorsed by the Council requesting them "to investigate the

social and economic conditions and the state of industrial

relations." The Congress also requested that the General Council

seek to extend various ILO Conventions to Hong Kong, in particular

ILO Convention nos 87 and 98.

A meeting of the Overseas Labour Consultative Committee has been arranged for 16 December to discuss labour and social

problems in Hong Kong.

Present Position on ILO Conventions Nos 87 and 98

ILO Convention 87

This Convention has been applied to Hong Kong since 1963

but with modifications concerning trade union overseas affilia-

tions, federations and powers of the trade union officers.

ILO Convention 98

The enactment of the Employment (Amendment) (No 2) Ordinance

1974 concerning anti-union discrimination should mean that this Convention can now be applied to Hong Kong.

New Labour Legislation

New measures of labour legislation include:-

Regulations to reduce overtime for women and children.

A Labour Relations Bill to give a statutory framework

to the conciliation services of the Labour Department.

i)

ii)

iii)

iv)

v)

New apprenticeship schemes.

Further regulations on industrial safety.

Special compensation for silicosis victims.

/SOCIAL WELFARE