ENG-1979 — Page 79

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EMPLOYMENT

The Labour Department initiates labour legislation and ensures that Hong Kong's obligations under international labour conventions are observed. The department is made up of 13 divisions: administration, air pollution control, apprenticeship, development, em- ployment services, employment conditions, factory inspectorate, industrial health, prosecu- tions and training, workmen's compensation, training council, labour relations, and mines.

Labour Relations

The Labour Relations Ordinance provides machinery for special conciliation, voluntary arbitration and boards of inquiry for settling trade disputes that cannot be resolved through ordinary conciliation. However, so far, it has not been necessary to invoke special concilia- tion or to refer any trade dispute to arbitration or a board of inquiry. In 1979, 128 trade disputes were settled by ordinary conciliation.

In 1979, the Labour Relations Service of the Labour Department dealt with 11,156 labour problems. Most were grievances involving individuals with claims for wages in arrears, severance pay, wages in lieu of notice, annual leave pay and holiday pay. There were 46 work stoppages. The number of working days lost in these disputes totalled 39,743, compared with 30,927 in 51 work stoppages in 1978.

The Labour Tribunal, which is part of the Judiciary, has functioned successfully since its inception in 1973. The tribunal complements the Labour Relations Service and in no way supersedes the existing conciliation services of the Labour Department. During 1979 the tribunal dealt with 3,804 cases involving employees as claimants, and a further 431 cases in which the claims were initiated by employers. More than $7 million was awarded by presiding officers. Of the cases dealt with by the tribunal, 90 per cent were referred by the Labour Relations Service after unsuccessful conciliation attempts.

The Labour Tribunal (Amendment) Ordinance 1979, effective from June 22, 1979, ex- tended the period within which claims could be filed with the Labour Tribunal from six to 12 months. This extension enabled the tribunal to deal with certain claims which formerly would have been outside its jurisdiction because of the six-month time limit.

Not many establishments have set up formal joint consultative committees. However, this does not necessarily mean that there is inadequate communication between manage- ment and labour. In Hong Kong, where more than 90 per cent of the manufacturing establishments employ less than 50 workers, informal consultation often takes place when the need arises. Nevertheless, officers of the Labour Relations Service continue to visit employers to promote joint consultation and labour relations. A new booklet, Simple Ways to Achieve Labour-Management Communication and Co-operation, published by the Labour Department, sets out the guidelines for avoiding labour-management discord through effective communication. It has been well received.

Finding Employment

The Labour Department's Local Employment Service operates a free placement service. It has 13 offices linked by a facsimile system which distributes information on employment opportunities. During the year, 22,362 people were successfully placed in employment in the private sector and in government departments.

The Special Register, a branch of the Local Employment Service, provides assistance to graduates of overseas and local universities and job-seekers who possess post-secondary or professional qualifications. A total of 254 persons found employment through this register. Planning for the setting up of a new, centralised selective placement service for the disabled is well under way. By stages, this new service will take over the work of the Job