TNAG-1724-FCO40-2437-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 39

3.

Supplementary to Question No. 6. Lego meeting on 10 2.88.

Mr. TAM (in Cantonese):

Sir, the contracting system is

rather a complex issue; very often when there are labour

disputes, nobody foots the bill for the employee';

under such circumstances, will Government consider

strengthening the Bill to widen the scope of protection to

other industries, other than the construction industries ?

Secretary for Education and Manpower: Sir, I think we have

so far seen the need for particular protection in terms of the

vicarious liability of wages in the construction industry.

As I said in the main reply, there seems to be no need at

present for extending these provisions to other industries

and occupations but, as I said, the Employment Ordinance

already affords full protection to workers in all occupations.

Mr. TAM (in Cantonese): Sir, will Government strengthen

the publicity towards contractors and subcontractors of various

trades so that employees therein know better what protection

they are entitled to ?

Secretary for Education and Manpower: Sir, I think that is a

its

resources

task which the Labour Department has been devoting re

to.

It has done

a good

job and I am sure that all

the publicity programmes will continue in the future.