ENG-2009 — Page 183

Employment ❘ 131

members of 101 pneumoconiosis and, or mesothelioma sufferers who had died as a result of the disease were also granted compensation during the year.

The Occupational Deafness Compensation Board administers the Occupational Deafness Compensation Scheme which compensates employees who have worked in specified noisy occupations and are suffering from noise-induced deafness. In 2009, the board approved 77 such applications and paid out $7.8 million in compensation. It approved 294 applications for hearing aids, costing $750,000. The board also runs rehabilitation programmes for people with impaired hearing caused by their jobs. In 2009, the board provided 568 such programmes.

Legislating for a Statutory Minimum Wage

The Government introduced a Minimum Wage Bill into the Legislative Council in July 2009. The goal is to establish an optimal statutory minimum wage regime that provides a wage floor to forestall excessively low wages without unduly jeopardising labour market flexibility, economic freedom and competitiveness, and without undermining the employment opportunities of vulnerable workers. The bill was still being scrutinised by the Legislative Council at year's end.

A Provisional Minimum Wage Commission was established in 2009 to advise the Government - based on evidence on an initial Statutory Minimum Wage level by carrying out data research and analysis of the subject and consulting widely stakeholders. The commission will become a statutory body following passage of the

bill.

Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board

The Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board determines claims under the Employment Ordinance and in accordance with individual employment contracts. The board hears and judges employment claims involving not more than 10 claimants for sums not exceeding $8,000 per claimant. During the year, the board dealt with 2 355 claims and approved awards amounting to $5.3 million.

Labour Tribunal

The Labour Tribunal is part of the Judiciary. It provides a quick, inexpensive and informal method of adjudicating disputes between employees and employers, which are not within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board.

In 2009, 7 758 cases were filed with the tribunal, of which 7 710 were initiated by employees and 48 by employers. Of these, 68.1 per cent were referred by the Labour Department's Labour Relations Division after unsuccessful conciliation attempts. During the year, the tribunal dealt with 5 859 cases and granted awards totalling more than $347 million, or 992 cases and $93 million more than in 2008.

Imported Workers

Employment of Professionals

Non-local people with special talents and professionals who possess special skills, knowledge or experience of value to Hong Kong may apply to take up