ENG-1977 — Page 70

EMPLOYMENT

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as societies and bearing allegiance to opposing political groups. Because of political differences, the number of unions has grown beyond practical needs, and divergent loyalties have prevented those with common interests from amalgamating into effective organisations.

The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions is a left-wing organisation. Most of the members of its 67 affiliated unions are concentrated in shipyards, textile mills and public utilities. A further 29 unions, nominally independent, are friendly towards the federation and take part in its activities. The Hong Kong and Kowloon Trades Union Council has right-wing sympathies. Most of the members of its 77 affiliated unions, and of the nine nominally-independent unions that generally support the Trades Union Council, are employed in the catering and building trades. The Trades Union Council is affiliated with the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions.

There are 131 independent unions, some of which continue to make improvements in their internal administration and in the services offered to members.

The legal requirements covering the registration and control of trade unions are specified in the Trade Unions Ordinance administered by the Registrar of Trade Unions. The Trade Unions (Amendment) Ordinance 1977, effective from March 18, 1977, facilitates the employment by unions of competent executive staff.

Of the 372 unions on the register at the end of the year, 313 were employee unions with an estimated membership of 388,200. A further 44 were merchant or employer organisations with an estimated membership of 4,850 and 15 were mixed organisations with an estimated membership of 5,820.

Labour Administration and Services

The Labour Department, including the Mines Division, has an establishment of 1,129 to provide continually expanding services. Branch offices in the urban areas and the New Territories - all within easy access to the public – play a significant role in dealing promptly with labour matters.

The Commissioner for Labour is the principal adviser to the government on labour matters and also is the Commissioner of Mines.

Labour legislation is initiated in the Labour Department, which also ensures that Hong Kong's obligations under international labour conventions are observed. The department is made up of 10 divisions: administration, apprenticeship, development, employment services, employment conditions, industrial health, training council, in- dustry, labour relations and mines.

The Labour Relations Ordinance, which became effective on August 1, 1975, pro- vides machinery for special conciliation, voluntary arbitration and boards of inquiry for settling trade disputes that cannot be resolved through ordinary conciliation. Since the ordinance came into operation, most of the 311 trade disputes have been settled by ordinary conciliation. It has not yet been found necessary to invoke special con- ciliation or to refer any trade dispute to arbitration or a board of inquiry.

In 1977, the Labour Relations Service dealt with 7,371 labour problems, most of which were grievances involving individuals with claims for wages in arrears, severance pay, wages in lieu of notice and holiday pay. There were 38 work stoppages. The num- ber of working days lost in these disputes totalled 10,814, compared with 4,751 in 15 work stoppages in 1976.