ENG-1956 — Page 60

OCCUPATIONS, WAGES AND LABOUR ORGANIZATION

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of work. It acts as a channel of conciliation in disputes between trade unions and employers, and individual workmen and employers. It provides advice and assistance to trade unions in the management of their affairs, including the organization of classes on various aspects of trade unionism; seeks to encourage joint consultation in industry; and advises on the establishment of appropriate machinery for this purpose. It is responsible for the protection of women and young persons employed in industry in compliance, in particular, with internationally accepted restrictions on their working hours. It protects emigrant workers; and administers the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance, primarily by inves- tigations conducted by a staff of trained labour inspectors. It carries out surveys of wage rates and levels, and conditions of employment; and is responsible for ensuring that publicity is given to the major provisions of the legislation with which the Department is concerned.

The Department is represented on interdepartmental com- mittees on industrial development, and on various other committees in the fields of welfare and vocational training. During 1956 it moved into new offices in the Central District of Hong Kong. There is also a branch office in Kowloon which facilitates inspections of industrial areas in Kowloon and the New Territories.

The Registry of Trade Unions, which was established as a separate department in December 1954, is now responsible for the registration work formerly carried out by the Labour Department under the Trade Unions and Trade Disputes Ordinance, 1948. It deals with applications for registration by new trade unions, and for registration of alterations of rules or of change of name or amalgamation by registered unions, and with dissolutions. Registered trade unions are also required by the Ordinance to transmit to the Registrar annual returns before 1st June and their audited accounts within one month of presentation to members.

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