TNAG-1064-FCO40-1314-Labour-relations-in-Hong-Kong-Professor-H-A-F-Turner-s-stud-1981 — Page 12

4.

327 in 1979 and 299

and 20 Jamily

296 in 1980. Ofigure: this rate compares not unreasonably with the average wage in the

nufacturing industry. In September 1980 (the latest month for which tabulated results of our periodic labour force surveys is available) the average PA for a singleton and a four-member household (our average size household) was 20.3% and 64%, respectively, of the average industrial wage. Since then (on 14 April 1981) the Governor in Council has approved, subject to the voting of the necessary funds by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council, an improvement of 25% in the basic rate of PA w.e.f. 1 July 1981 to reflect the real increase in the standard of living of the workforce since 1972 when PA was introduced. This real improvement will be incorporated in future revisions of PA rates on account of rising costs. Accordingly, from July 1981 the average PA available to a singleton and to a four-member family will become

24.9% and 76.6%, respectively, of the average industrial wage. Neither is the payment procedure necessarily a factor. Anyone registering,

The PA rate is not the reason for the low

say on 1 January, will have his first payment authorised by 1 February

for the month of February although the receipt of cash order books by

the applicant through the post will probably take a few days. However,

any urgent needs are met through immediate cash payments authorized on the spot. The one month waiting period is unlikely to deter those in

genuine need. It is also pertinent to note that in Hong Kong, there

remains a tradition of self-reliance: an unemployed person is likely

to rely on savings from happier days, or on assistance from relatives, and will choose to exhaust these means before turning to public assistance.

This spirit of self-reliance is to be encouraged and not stifled.

Serial 8

Creation of a mechanism for cooperation at the workplace level and statutory requirement for "Enterprise Councils" for enterprises with 100 or more employees

9.

The recently established Promotional Unit in the Labour

Relations Division of the Labour Department aims at encouraging

managements to set up voluntary joint consultative committees within their organisations and at promoting good labour relations practices

among employers and employees. Officers of the Promotional Unit have

already started visiting establishments with 100 or more employees. (There are at present some 1,985 such establishments, of which 1,454 are manufacturing establishments, 113 are wholesale, retail and import/

export firms, 284 are in the restaurant and hotel trade and 134 are financial, insurance, real estate and business services enterprises.)

10.

It is considered that good labour management relations can

inminn. Statutory Joint Consultative:

201

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Committees or "Enterprise Councils" would upset the balance of the

labour relations framework in Hong Kong, and require standardisation of constitutions, mode of operation, workers representation, etc., irrespective of the nature of the business and organisational

structure of each individual establishment, which would be undesirable.

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