ENG-1980 — Page 82

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EMPLOYMENT

In 1980, 125 trade disputes were settled by the conciliation service provided by the Labour Relations Service of the Labour Department. These disputes led to 37 work stoppages, resulting in 21,069 working days lost, compared with 39,743 days lost in 46 stoppages in 1979.

The Labour Relations Service also dealt with 12,555 labour problems in 1980. These were mostly grievances involving individual claims for wages in arrears, wages in lieu of notice, severance pay, annual leave pay and holiday pay.

The Labour Relations Service gained additional staff during the year to promote good labour-management relations through advisory visits to employers.

The Labour Tribunal, which is part of the Judiciary, provides a quick, inexpensive and informal method of settling certain types of disputes between employees and employers with a minimum of formality. The tribunal deals with claims of right, wherever possible in the language of the parties. It complements the Labour Relations Service and in no way supersedes the existing conciliation services of the Labour Department. During 1980, the tribunal heard 3,446 cases involving employees as claimants, and a further 371 cases in which the claims were initiated by employers. More than $8 million was awarded by presiding officers. Of the cases dealt with by the tribunal, 91 per cent were referred by the Labour Relations Service after unsuccessful conciliation attempts.

Finding Employment

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The Local Employment Service of the Labour Department provides free placement services. It operates from 13 offices linked by a facsimile system through which information on employment opportunities is distributed. During the year, 28,235 people were success- fully placed in employment.

The Labour Department's Special Register provides assistance to graduates of overseas and local universities and job-seekers who possess post-secondary or professional qualifica- tions. A total of 317 people found employment through this register.

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A centralised Selective Placement Service for the disabled was established in the Labour Department in July. The service, initially, is providing assistance to physically handicapped job-seekers - including the deaf, blind and physically-disabled - but it will gradually be extended to cover the mentally disabled and the socially disadvantaged, whose placement needs in the meantime will continue to be met by the Job Placement Unit of the Social Welfare Department, the Employment Service of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and voluntary agencies. During the year, a total of 113 people found employment through the Selective Placement Service.

Overseas 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, 313 contracts were attested, compared with 398 in 1979.

Foreign Domestic Helpers

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, 7,914 such contracts were attested.