ENG-1998 — Page 172

EMPLOYMENT

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employees and the government, mainly through the role of the Labour Advisory Board.

The Employees' Compensation Ordinance and the Pneumoconiosis. (Compensation) Ordinance were amended to raise the levels of compensation payable to injured employees and pneumoconiosis sufferers respectively.

The Occupational Deafness (Compensation) Ordinance was amended to give effect to a package of improvements to the Occupational Deafness Compensation Scheme arising from a comprehensive review of the scheme. The improvements aimed at expanding the coverage of the scheme and streamlining its operational procedures.

Part II of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance on the responsibility for employees' safety and health at work came into effect on June 1, 1998, while Part VII of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulation on manual handling operations commenced operation on July 1.

Enforcement of Legislation

During 1998, there were 8 461 prosecutions for breaches of various ordinances and regulations administered by the Labour Department. Fines totalling $67,487,442 were imposed.

Labour Advisory Board

The Labour Advisory Board is a non-statutory body set up to provide a forum for consultation on labour policies and legislation. It also monitors the Supplementary Labour Scheme. Six of the 12 members represent employers and another six represent employees. The Commissioner for Labour, or the deputy, is the ex officio chairman.

The board has set up five committees on special subjects including employees' compensation, employment services, occupational safety and health, labour relations and the implementation of international labour standards.

International Labour Standards

The International Labour Conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) prescribe standards on matters such as labour administration, employment rights, and occupational safety and health as models for member States. These conventions have a significant influence on the formulation of HKSAR labour legislation and 46 conventions are applied here. This compared favourably with most members of the ILO in the Asia-Pacific region. The HKSAR continues to participate in the activities of the ILO. In 1998, representatives from the HKSAR participated in the 86th Session of the International Labour Conference as part of the delegation of the People's Republic of China. The HKSAR also participated in regional activities of the ILO, using the name 'Hong Kong, China'.

Trade Unions

Trade unions must be registered under the Trade Unions Ordinance, which is administered by the Registrar of Trade Unions. Once registered, a trade union becomes a body corporate and enjoys immunity from certain civil suits.