ENG-1978 — Page 69

EMPLOYMENT

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for women to 200 hours a year. Since January 1, 1977, there has been legislation to reduce overtime employment for young people aged 16 and 17 by stages of 50 hours a year until its abolition in 1980. Overtime employment for young people aged 14 and 15 has always been prohibited.

Children under the age of 14 are not allowed to be employed in industry. In 1978, labour inspectors made 128,684 day and night inspections of industrial undertakings. In addition, three special campaigns against child employment were mounted in 16,126 factories. During the year, 336 cases involving 348 children were brought before the

courts.

Women and young people are prohibited from working at night, underground or in dangerous trades. Since 1970, some large factories - mostly those engaged in cotton spinning - have been granted special permission to employ women at night, subject to stringent conditions. This concession is reviewed annually.

Although there are no legal restrictions on hours of work for men, it is common for men employed in industry to work eight or nine hours a day. Restrictions on the hours of work for women and young people in industry have, in most cases, resulted in shorter working hours for men employed alongside women and young people. Government employees and those working for better employers in the private sector may work shorter hours, but usually about seven hours a day. Under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Regulations, no man may be employed to work under- ground in mines, quarries and industrial undertakings involving tunnelling operations unless he is first medically examined and certified fit for such work. Those under the age of 21 have to be medically re-examined at yearly intervals.

Trade Unions

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With the exception of a growing independent segment, employee unions are either affiliated to, or associated with, one of two local federations registered 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 organisa- tions.

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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 76 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 Hong Kong and Kowloon Trades Union Council is affiliated with the International Con- federation of Free Trade Unions.

There are 146 independent unions, some of which continue to make improvements in their internal administration and in the services offered to members.

The statutory requirements covering the registration and control of trade unions are specified in the Trade Unions Ordinance administered by the Registrar of Trade Unions.