TNAG-0585-FCO40-718-Employment-of-children-in-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 245

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Employment of young persons

158. The Factories and Industrial Undertakings Regulations also re- strict the working hours of young persons. For those aged 16 and 17 years, the working hours are the same as for adult women. Those aged 14 and 15 years are not permitted to work more than eight hours a day or to work overtime, and they must have a break of at least one hour after continuous work of five hours. All young persons are prohibited from working at night between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. and must be given one rest-day a week.

159. At the end of the year, it is estimated that 82,989 young persons between the ages of 14 and 17 were working in industry where they formed 15 per cent of the labour force. They comprise :

160.

boys of 16 and 17 years

9,218

boys of 14 and 15 years

2,935

girls of 16 and 17 years

60,470

girls of 14 and 15 years

10,366

82,989

Young persons are employed in a variety of industries.

Boys work

mainly as apprentices or trainees in ship-building and repairing, construc- tion and civil engineering, motor-repairs, tailoring and the printing

Girls trades or as operatives in the light metal and plastics industries. generally work in the textiles, plastics and electronics industries or in the manufacture of hosiery, gloves and garments.

Children

161.

The Factories and Industrial Undertakings Regulations prohibit the employment in industry of children under the age of 14 years. During the year, the labour inspectorate carried out 102,109 regular day and night inspections to industrial undertakings. In addition, three special cam- paigns against child employment covering 13,540 factories were mounted dur- ing the year. A total of 317 cases involving 397 children were brought

before the courts.

Maternity leave

162.

Under the Employment Ordinance, a female employee with not less than 26 weeks' continuous service is entitled to 10 weeks' maternity leave. Pay during maternity leave is neither statutory nor the current practice, but several large factories and some commercial firms grant full pay or a portion of it during maternity leave, while others contribute to the expen- ses of confinement, or provide an advance of pay. The government grants half-pay maternity leave up to 10 weeks to female staff provided that they first take any leave due to them.

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