ENG-1993 — Page 144

EMPLOYMENT

Labour Conditions

The employment of children aged under 15 years is prohibited in all industrial under- takings. Children aged 13 and 14 years may be employed in non-industrial establishments, subject to their having completed nine years' education and other conditions which aim to protect their safety, health and welfare. However, the vast majority in this age group is still at school.

Working hours, night work, rest periods and overtime work for women and for young persons aged below 18 years in industrial establishments are strictly regulated by law for their protection.

The Labour Inspectorate of the Labour Department is responsible for monitoring employers' compliance with requirements in the Employment Ordinance relating to the employment of women and young persons, payment of wages, annual leave and statutory holidays, sickness allowance and maternity protection. The ordinance applies to both local and foreign workers.

Labour Legislation

The Commissioner for Labour is the principal adviser to the government on labour affairs. She is responsible for initiating proposals for new labour legislation and amendments to existing laws. The government's policy on labour is to achieve levels of safety, health and welfare for employees in Hong Kong which are broadly equivalent to those provided in neighbouring countries at a similar stage of economic development. This objective has been achieved through a total of 119 legislative enactments in the past decade.

During 1993, 11 pieces of labour legislation were enacted. An amendment to the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Ordinance raised the amount of ex gratia payments in respect of arrears of wages and wages in lieu of notice covered by the ordinance. An amendment to the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance provided a new compensation scheme for pneumoconiosis sufferers, offering improved benefits in the form of monthly payments until death. The maximum level of compensation payable under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance was revised, while an amendment to the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance revised the levels of penalty, to discourage infringement of the ordinance.

Labour Advisory Board

The Labour Advisory Board, a non-statutory body, helps to formulate labour policies and legislation. It has six members representing employers and another six representing employees. The Commissioner for Labour, or her deputy, is the ex officio chairman.

To cope with the increasing range and complexity of work and to encourage greater participation by employers and employees, committees have been set up under the board on special subject areas including employment services, industrial safety and health, labour relations, employees' compensation and the implementation of international labour standards. The views of employers and employees are canvassed in the formulation of labour policies through consultation with the board, to provide a progressive yet balanced programme of labour legislation for the benefit of all concerned.

International Labour Standards

A number of international instruments set out labour standards. Among them are the International Labour Conventions of the International Labour Organisation. These

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