ENG-1987 — Page 117

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EMPLOYMENT

comprising 80 half-day and 24 evening sessions on labour relations and labour legislation, two of which were organised with the Chinese Manufacturers Association of Hong Kong and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries; two symposia for the clothing industry and construction industry; two district-based seminars on labour relations, and six exhibitions. In addition, the unit, in conjunction with two district boards, organised two festivals on labour relations for residents in their respective districts. The unit also published a quarterly newsletter, and leaflets and pamphlets on a wide range of personnel management

matters.

Maternity Leave

Female employees with 26 weeks service or more are entitled, as from July 10, to mater- nity protection for the whole period of pregnancy. This is an improvement over the previous situation when maternity protection began only 12 weeks before the start of the maternity leave.

Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund

From July 3, 1987, the scope of the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund which allows workers who are owed wages by their employers to apply for ex-gratia payment, was extended to cover seven days wages in lieu of notice, subject to a maximum of $2,000, in addition to wages still outstanding.

During the year, 4 397 applications were received and 2961 were approved, with payments totalling $7.2 million.

The Labour Tribunal

The Labour Tribunal, which is part of the judiciary, provides a quick, inexpensive and informal method of adjudicating certain types of dispute between employees and employers, with a minimum of formality. The tribunal deals with claims of right, wherever possible in the language of the parties.

In 1987, the tribunal heard 4 426 cases involving employees as claimants, and a further 384 cases in which the claims were initiated by employers. More than $24 million was awarded by the presiding officers. Of the cases dealt with by the tribunal, 98.94 per cent were referred by the Labour Relations Service after unsuccessful conciliation attempts.

Finding Employment

The Local Employment Service of the Labour Department provides a free placement service to assist employers to recruit suitable staff and job-seekers to find suitable employment. It operates from 15 offices linked by a facsimile system for the rapid exchange of information on vacancies notified by employers. The Central Recruitment Unit, working closely with the Local Employment Service, is a central agency for all government departments in the recruitment of non-pensionable staff such as artisans, drivers and workmen. It also co-ordinates employment services provided to large employers in the private sector with territory-wide recruitment needs. To help alleviate the general labour shortage, the service intensified its publicity efforts through television and promotional visits to employers so as to encourage more people to use the free services. During the year, 28 686 people were placed in employment, including 4 071 who found jobs in the Public Service.