ENG-1987 — Page 119

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Foreign Domestic Helpers

EMPLOYMENT

The Labour Department attests employment contracts for foreign domestic helpers, the majority of whom come from the Philippines. The attestation aims to control and protect the employment conditions of these helpers. In 1987, 31 138 such contracts were attested.

The department also conciliates in disputes arising from the employment of foreign domestic helpers. In 1987, 377 claims, 557 consultations and 48 326 enquiries relating to the employment of such helpers were handled.

Employment Agencies

The Employment Ordinance and the Employment Agency Regulations made under the ordinance govern the licensing and operation of employment agencies in Hong Kong. During the year, the Labour Department issued 277 licences to employment agencies dealing with employment of persons within Hong Kong, 72 licences to agencies handling employment of persons outside Hong Kong and two certificates of exemption to non-profit making agencies.

Industrial Safety

The Factory Inspectorate of the Labour Department is responsible for enforcing the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and its subsidiary regulations. These regulations provide for the safety and health of workers in factories, on building and engineering construction sites and in other industrial undertakings. Advice and assistance are given to management on various safety and health aspects, including the adoption of safe working practices and layout of new factories to achieve a better working environment. The inspectorate also investigates industrial accidents and dangerous occurrences.

The Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Safety Officers and Safety Supervisors) Regulations were approved by the Legislative Council in October 1986. They provide for the compulsory employment of safety officers and safety supervisors in construction sites above a certain size, the establishment of a Safety Officer Advisory Committee and the registration of safety officers. The provisions on the establishment of the Safety Officer Advisory Committee and the registration of safety officers came into operation in December 1986. The provisions on the employment of safety officers and safety supervisors came into operation in December 1987.

Throughout the year, the Factory Inspectorate's Industrial Safety Training Centre conducted safety training courses for workers, supervisors and managers from various industries. Safety talks were arranged for technical school teachers and students. These talks were also arranged for other types of secondary schools during the summer holidays. During the year, the centre began giving talks on safety management to business studies students in post-secondary institutions. In conjunction with the Hong Kong Polytechnic, the centre continued to organise two evening and one part-time day-release courses leading to the award of a Certificate of Proficiency in Industrial Safety and two evening courses leading to the award of a Certificate of Proficiency in Advanced Industrial Safety. The department continued to assist the Construction Industry Training Authority to run construction safety officer courses. For the first time, the department also helped the Training Authority to run courses to train safety supervisors for the construction industry.

The Factory Inspectorate, in collaboration with the Information Services Department, continued its publicity programme for the promotion of industrial safety through extensive use of the media and other means. Eight episodes of documentary drama were presented