ENG-1970 — Page 46

EMPLOYMENT

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given to workers in industrial establishments and for sickness allowance up to 12 days a year on half pay.

LABOUR ADMINISTRATION AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

The Commissioner of Labour is the principal adviser to the Governor on labour and industrial relations policies. All labour legislation is initiated in the Labour Department which ensures that Hong Kong's obligations under International Labour Con- ventions are observed. The organisation of the department now provides for five divisions: Labour Relations, Development, Industry, Employment and Industrial Health. Having completed their missions, the two Labour Advisers appointed in 1968 to assist the Commissioner, one on labour legislation and the other on all aspects of industrial relations, left the Colony in March 1970 and November 1970 respectively.

Three measures amending the Employment Ordinance were enacted during the year.

The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance which came into operation on January 9, 1970 provides for maternity protection in employment to comply in part with International Labour-Con- vention No. 3 (Maternity Protection). All female employees covered by the principal ordinance and employed continuously by the same employer for not less than 26 weeks are entitled to unpaid maternity leave of four weeks before the expected date of confine- ment and six weeks after the actual date of confinement. An employer is prohibited from, giving notice of termination of employment to a female employee from the date on which she gives notice of intention to take maternity leave until the expiry of that leave.

The Employment (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance came into operation on April 1, 1970. All manual workers whatever their wages, and all non-manual workers whose wages do not exceed $1,500 a month, who are employed under a continuous contract, are entitled to not less than four rest days a month. Women and young persons who are entitled to one rest day in every seven days under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Regulations are not covered by this amendment which also provides for sub- stitution of, and voluntary work on, rest days.