ENG-1982 — Page 85

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EMPLOYMENT

arbitration and boards of enquiry for settling trade disputes that cannot be resolved through ordinary conciliation.

In 1982, 174 trade disputes were handled by the conciliation service provided by the Labour Relations Service of the Labour Department. These disputes led to 34 work stoppages, resulting in 17 960 working days lost, compared with 15 319 days lost in 49 stoppages in 1981.

The service also dealt with 16 501 labour problems in 1982. These were mostly grievances involving individual claims for wages in arrears, wages in lieu of notice, severance pay, annual leave pay and holiday pay.

During the year, the promotion unit of the Labour Relations Service made 303 advisory visits to employers to promote joint consultation and good labour-management relations. It organised nine training courses on the Employment Ordinance for 834 management personnel and trade union officials, and another 21 similar training courses for 612 workers on a district or industry basis.

The Labour Tribunal, which is part of the Judiciary, provides a quick, inexpensive and informal method of adjudicating 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 does not supersede the conciliation services of the Labour Department. During 1982, the tribunal heard 5 132 cases involving employees as claimants, and a further 352 cases in which the claims were initiated by employers. More than $15 million was awarded by presiding officers. Of the cases dealt with by the tribunal, 92.3 per cent were referred by the Labour Relations Service after unsuccessful conciliation attempts.

Finding Employment

The Local Employment Service provides free placement service from 15 offices. These offices are linked by a facsimile system for efficient transmission of information on employment opportunities. During the year, 33 732 people were successfully placed in employment.

The Special Register of the Labour Department provides assistance to graduates of overseas and local universities and job-seekers possessing post-secondary or professional qualifications. A total of 224 people found employment through this register. Another departmental register is the agency for the recruitment of artisans and labourers for all government departments.

The Selective Placement Service provides employment assistance to deaf, blind and physically disabled people and operates from two offices in Hong Kong and Kowloon. During 1983, similar employment assistance will be extended to the mentally disabled and to ex-mental patients, while the Employment Service of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and other voluntary agencies will continue for the time being to be responsible for the placement of socially disadvantaged job-seekers. During 1982, 372 physically handicapped 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, 205 contracts were attested, compared with 227 in 1981.