ENG-1989 — Page 131

EMPLOYMENT

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Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund

Employees of insolvent employers can apply to the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund for ex-gratia payment in respect of severance payment under the Employment Ordinance, up to the limit of $4,000 per applicant. The fund also covers four months' arrears of wages, up to $8,000, and seven days' wages in lieu of notice, up to $2,000.

During the year, 3 489 applications were received and payments totalling $8.32 million were made involving 2 482 applications.

The Labour Tribunal

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

In 1989, the tribunal heard 3 689 cases involving employees as claimants, and a further 596 cases which were initiated by employers. More than $31 million was awarded by the presiding officers. Of the cases dealt with by the tribunal, 93 per cent were referred by the Labour Relations Service after unsuccessful conciliation attempts.

Finding Employment

The Employment Services Division of the the Labour Department consists of the Local -Employment Service, the Central Recruitment Unit and the Higher Education Employ-

ment Service.

The Local Employment Service provides free placement services to help employers recruit staff and job-seekers to find suitable employment. It operates from 15 offices which are linked by a facsimile system for the rapid exchange of vacancy information. The Central Recruitment Unit is a central agency for the recruitment of non-pensionable staff, such as artisans, motor drivers and workmen in all government departments. The unit also provides employment services to some private companies with territory-wide recruitment needs. During the year, 23 899 people were placed in employment, including 5 899 who found jobs in the public service. To help alleviate the labour shortage, the Local Em- ployment Service organised four mobile exhibitions and a 'job bazaar' during the year. The bazaar aimed to help participating employers publicise their job opportunities and conduct on-the-spot recruitment to meet urgent staffing needs. In addition, publicity efforts through the mass media were intensified to encourage more people to use the free employment

services.

The Higher Education Employment Service provides free employment assistance to job-seekers who possess university, post-secondary or professional qualifications. It has computerised its operation to provide job-matching and produce promotional materials. Vacancy information on job opportunities is disseminated regularly to universities abroad for the information of Hong Kong overseas students. During the year, 148 people found employment through this service. Seminars were also organised to advise job-seekers on job-hunting techniques and employment opportunities.

The Selective Placement Division provides a free employment counselling and placement service for the physically disabled, mentally retarded and ex-mentally ill persons seeking open employment. The division operates from three offices in Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories. During the year, the division launched a series of activities to publicise its work and to promote the employability of the disabled. A ceremony was held in September to give recognition to those employers who took on the largest number of