ENG-1978 — Page 71

EMPLOYMENT

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published by the Labour Department in 1976, sets out the principal guidelines for promoting harmonious labour relations.

Finding Employment

During the year the Labour Department's Local Employment Service established five additional offices at Hung Hom, Mong Kok, North Point, Chai Wan and Wong Chuk Hang. A facsimile system linking its 13 offices was installed to speed up distribu- tion of information on employment opportunities. A total of 15,566 job-seekers secured employment through this free placement service.

The Special Register, established in 1973, provides assistance to graduates of over- seas and local universities and those with post-secondary or professional qualifications. During the year 123 people were successfully placed in employment.

The Contracts for Overseas Employment Ordinance controls contracts entered into in Hong Kong between overseas employers, or their authorised representatives, and all manual workers proceeding overseas for employment. Such contracts must be attested by the Commissioner for Labour before workers leave Hong Kong. During the year 461 contracts were attested, compared with 428 in 1977.

Permission to work in Britain is given by the United Kingdom Department of Employment. Work permits are issued to applicants through the Hong Kong Immigra- tion Department.

Administrative measures are in force to regulate and protect the employment of domestic helpers recruited from overseas under valid contracts that must be attested by the Labour Department. During the year, 5,191 such contracts were attested.'

Under the Employment Ordinance, all profit-making employment agencies - unless in an excluded class - are required to obtain a licence from the Commissioner for Labour before commencing operations. During the year the department issued 51 licences to employment agencies dealing with local employment and nine to those catering for employment overseas.

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The Youth Employment Advisory Service provides careers information to students and young people in a variety of ways. It has so far produced 37 careers pamphlets and 100 occupations leaflets, and more are being prepared. The service also produces a careers newsletter on a monthly basis and distributes copies to secondary schools, youth centres and other youth organisations.

In 1978, officers of the service gave 263 talks on careers to some 35,400 students in 138 schools. The service also organised 12 seminars and took part in 24 other activities to provide careers information to students, teachers, parents and interested individuals.

In September, the service set up its first careers information centre in Kowloon. The centre has a careers reference library with some 800 titles on careers and related subjects as well as audio-visual facilities for films, slide presentations, cassette record- ings and other resources.

The Labour Department's seventh careers exhibition was held at the Hung Hom rail terminus in November. A total of 25 exhibitors from commerce, industry and government took part in the exhibition, which attracted some 107,000 visitors. During the year, 12 mini careers exhibitions were staged on a specially-designed truck that visited housing estates, parks, community centres and schools.