ENG-1988 — Page 132

EMPLOYMENT

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Under the two-tier Employees' Compensation Assessment Board system, employees with work-related injuries which are likely to result in permanent incapacity are assessed by the assessment boards at eight major hospitals in Hong Kong. In 1988, Ordinary Assessment Boards convened 549 sessions and completed assessment of 18 088 cases referred to them by the Commissioner for Labour and 1 187 review cases. Special Assessment Boards convened five sessions and completed assessment of four cases referred to them by the Ordinary Assessment Boards and one review case.

The Employees' Compensation Ordinance was amended in July. The new provisions will be brought into operation by stages. With effect from July, the maximum which an employer may advance on account of compensation claimed under the ordinance was increased from $10,000 to $20,000. On October 6, the application of the ordinance was extended to cover employees who are employed in Hong Kong by a Hong Kong employer and who are injured at work performed outside the territory. From January 1, 1989, the existing authority of the Commissioner for Labour to assess compensation payable in cases with no loss of earning capacity will be extended to those where such loss is assessed at not more than five per cent.

Owing to a gradual decline in the last few years in the number and size of claims for compensation from the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund, it has been possible to reduce the fund's income by way of levy substantially. The rate of levy applicable to construction works with a value of $1 million or more, and to quarry products, was reduced from 0.05 per cent to 0.02 per cent from June 26. The Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance was also amended in June to clarify and enhance the Pneumoconiosis Com- pensation Fund Board's power to make an advance on account of compensation claimed under the Ordinance from $1,000 to $20,000. The principal regulations to the ordinance were also amended to set the minimum amount to be considered as monthly earnings at $920 and to reduce to 40 the number of weekly working hours defining an employment as full time.

Labour Advisory Board

The Labour Advisory Board is appointed by the Governor to advise the Commissioner for Labour on matters affecting labour, including legislation and conventions and recommen- dations of the International Labour Organisation. The board has been expanding its role and functions in recent years. It has played an active part in the formulation of labour policies and has given advice on all major labour legislation.

The Commissioner for Labour or his deputy is the ex-officio chairman of the board. There are 12 members, six representing employers of whom four are nominated by the major employer associations and two appointed ad personam by the government. Six members represent employees of whom four are elected by registered employee trade unions and two are appointed ad personam by the government. Some changes will be made to the com- position of the Labour Advisory Board from January 1, 1989. Under the new arrangement, the board will still consist of 12 members. However, the number of elected employees' representatives and the number of nominated employers' representatives will be increased from four to five in each case. As a result of these changes, the number of employer and employee members appointed ad personam on each side will be reduced from two to one.

To cope with the increasing range and complexity of work and to encourage greater participation by employers and employees, committees have been set up on special subject areas such as employment services, the implementation of international labour standards, industrial safety and health, labour relations and employees' compensation. A number of employers and employees are co-opted from time to time to serve on these committees.