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Employment

An Employees Compensation Assistance Scheme administered by the Employees Compensation Assistance Fund Board provides assistance payment to injured employees or family members of deceased employees who fail to receive the entitled compensation after exhausting all legal and financially viable means of recovery. The Occupational Deafness Compensation Scheme, administered by the Occupational Deafness Compensation Board, provides compensation for persons employed in specified noisy occupations who suffer hearing loss as a result of prolonged exposure to excessive noise at work, and financial assistance for hearing assistive devices. Both schemes are financed by a levy imposed on all employees' compensation insurance policies taken out by employers.

Pneumoconiosis and/or mesothelioma sufferers are eligible for compensation under the Pneumoconiosis and Mesothelioma (Compensation) Ordinance administered by the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board. The fund is financed by a levy imposed on the construction and quarrying industries. Those diagnosed to have contracted pneumoconiosis before the ordinance became effective in 1981 may apply for ex gratia payments from the government under the Pneumoconiosis Ex Gratia Scheme.

Retirement Protection

All employees, except those who are not required by law to join a local retirement scheme, receive retirement protection under the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance, Occupational Retirement Schemes Ordinance or other statutory pension plans.

Statutory Minimum Wage

The overall employment market has remained stable since statutory minimum wage was introduced in 2011. Employment earnings of low-income employees have continued to improve. The department widely publicises the Minimum Wage Ordinance and labour inspectors visit businesses to make sure employers comply with the law.

The Minimum Wage Commission is an independent statutory body established under the ordinance. Its main function is to recommend the statutory minimum wage rate to the Chief Executive in Council when required by the Chief Executive to do so. In October, the commission completed its latest review of the rate and submitted its recommendation report for the government's consideration.

Employment Agencies

The department enforces Part XII of the Employment Ordinance and the Employment Agency Regulations, which empower it to issue licences to employment agencies, monitor and investigate complaints, and prosecute offenders. The department issued 3,158 employment agency licences and revoked five in 2016.

Standard Working Hours

The Standard Working Hours Committee comprises a chairman and 23 members from the labour and business sectors, academia, the community and the government. During the year, it completed the Consultation on Working Hours Policy Directions (Second-stage Consultation)

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