ENG-1989 — Page 137

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EMPLOYMENT

will be increased by about 23 per cent with effect from January 1, 1990, to take into account the changes in wage levels since the last review in 1988.

A plan is in hand to establish an Employees' Compensation Assistance Scheme. Under the scheme, assistance will be given to victims of accidents occurring since January 1, 1984, when insurance was made compulsory. The scheme covers employees who are unable to receive statutory compensation or damages at Common Law due to them as a result of defaulting employers or insolvent insurers. It also covers those employers who fail to receive indemnity due to the insolvency of their insurers.

In 1989, 146 cases were awarded compensation amounting to $12,983,071 from the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Scheme. The Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board allotted $1.5 million for financing six research and educational programmes to prevent pneumoconiosis.

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 recom- mendations 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 and six representing employees. Of the employers' representatives, five are nominated by five major employer associations and one appointed ad personam by the government. Five of the employees' representatives are elected by registered employees' trade unions and one appointed ad personam by the government. 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.