ENG-1986 — Page 113

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EMPLOYMENT

During the year, 18 new unions were registered. At the end of the year, there were 448 unions, comprising 403 employees' unions with about 371 100 members, three employers' associations with some 3 070 members, and 15 mixed organisations of employees and employers with about 22 880 members.

The majority of the blue collar employees' unions are affiliated to one or the other of the two local societies registered under the Societies Ordinance - the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions and the Hong Kong and Kowloon Trades Union Council.

The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions has 71 affiliated unions with about 167 940 members. Its affiliated unions are concentrated in shipyards, textile mills, public transport, public utilities and the printing and carpentry trades.

The Hong Kong and Kowloon Trades Union Council has 68 affiliated unions with a membership of about 34 930. These unions are mainly in the catering and building trades.

The remaining 264 employees' unions have a membership of about 168 230, mostly drawn from the Civil Service and the teaching profession.

Labour Administration and Services

The Labour Department has an establishment of 1 623. Branch offices throughout the urban areas and the New Territories deal with labour matters raised by local employers and employees. The Commissioner for Labour is the principal adviser to the government on labour affairs. He is also the Commissioner of Mines.

The department initiates labour legislation and ensures that Hong Kong's obligations under international labour conventions are observed. It is made up of 15 divisions: administration, development, information and public relations, employees' compensation, employment services, factory inspectorate, labour relations, mines, occupational health, pressure equipment, prosecutions, selective placement, staff training and development, women and young persons, and the youth employment advisory service and overseas employment service.

Labour Relations

The Labour Relations Ordinance provides machinery for special conciliation, voluntary arbitration and boards of enquiry for settling trade disputes that cannot be resolved through ordinary conciliation. A committee on labour relations was set up by the Labour Advisory Board in 1986 to promote good labour-management relations.

In 1986, the Labour Relations Service of the Labour Department conciliated in 205 trade disputes which led to nine work stoppages, with a loss of 4 907 working days, compared with 1 160 working days lost in three work stoppages in 1985. The service also dealt with 19 211 claims for wages in lieu of notice, severance pay, long service payment, wages in arrears, annual leave pay, holiday pay, end of year bonus and others.

The Promotion Unit of the Labour Relations Service is responsible for the promotion of harmonious labour-management relations. During the year, officers of the unit made 240 advisory visits to employers, trade unions and employers' associations. Other promotional activities included eight certificate courses, comprising 68 half-day sessions on industrial relations, and two conferences on labour relations in the catering and electronics industries. A total of 1 191 management personnel, union officials and workers' representatives participated in these activities. The unit also produced posters and calendars to publicise its activities. In addition, a newsletter was published on a quarterly basis and one mini- exhibition was organised, attracting 9 000 visitors. The unit, in conjunction with two district boards, also organised a seminar and a festival on labour relations for residents.