Employment | 123
employment services to employers and job seekers; promotes harmonious labour relations and responsible trade unionism; safeguards employees' rights and benefits; and promotes the occupational safety, health and welfare of the workforce.
Labour Legislation
The Labour Department administers Hong Kong's labour laws. Labour legislation, supplemented by administrative measures, provides the basis for the enforcement of the rights and obligations of employers and employees, and in so doing, also enables Hong Kong to meet internationally-accepted labour standards.
Three ordinances were enacted by the Legislative Council during the year to further employees' rights and improve their benefits. The ordinances are: the Occupational Deafness (Compensation) (Amendment) Ordinance 2010, the Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2010 and the Minimum Wage Ordinance. Legislating for minimum wage represented a significant milestone and breakthrough in protecting the well-being of the grassroots workforce in Hong Kong.
In addition, amendments were made to the Employees' Compensation Ordinance to increase the amounts of five compensation items payable in respect of cases mainly involving death or permanent incapacity. The revised levels of compensation took effect on August 1, 2010.
There were
were 6796 prosecutions for breaches of various ordinances and regulations administered by the Labour Department in 2010. These resulted in fines totalling more than $21.8 million.
International Labour Affairs
Hong Kong applies 41 international labour conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). These conventions lay down standards that have a significant influence on the formulation of Hong Kong's labour laws.
Hong Kong continued to participate actively in ILO activities during the year, keeping itself abreast of international labour issues. In June, a team of Hong Kong government, employer and employee representatives took part in the 99th Session of the International Labour Conference as part of the China delegation. Representatives from Hong Kong also participated in other ILO seminars and workshops.
Labour Advisory Board
The Labour Advisory Board is a high-level and representative tripartite consultative body. It advises the Commissioner for Labour on labour matters and ILO conventions and recommendations. The board comprises 12 members, six representing employers and six representing employees. The Commissioner for Labour is the ex officio chairman.
The board has five standing committees to deal with employees' compensation, employment services, occupational safety and health, labour relations and implementation of international labour standards respectively. There is, in addition, a
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