ENG-2016 — Page 159

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Employment

terms of employment include free and suitable accommodation with reasonable privacy at the employer's residence, free food or food allowance in lieu, wages not lower than the minimum allowable wage set by the government, free passage from and to the helper's place of origin and free medical treatment. Employers must also meet the required levels of income or assets.

As at December 2016, Hong Kong had 351,513 foreign domestic helpers, an increase of 3.3 per cent from 2015. The Philippines and Indonesia respectively accounted for 53.8 per cent and 43.8 per cent of the total number of foreign domestic helpers.

Occupational Safety and Health

The Labour Department improves occupational safety and health standards in the workplace through inspection and enforcement, publicity and promotion, and education and training. Safety and health at work have shown clear signs of improvements in the last decade as a result of the concerted efforts of employers, employees, contractors, safety practitioners and the

government.

In 2016, there were 35,768 occupational injuries, a drop of 18.7 per cent from the 43,979 cases a decade ago. Over the same period, the number of industrial accidents fell from 16,117 to 10,883, a decrease of 32.5 per cent. In 2016, 334 cases of occupational diseases were confirmed, including monaural hearing loss.

Inspection and Enforcement

The department inspects workplaces regularly to ensure compliance with occupational safety and health laws, particularly in high-risk industries and work processes such as work-at-height activities, and at organisations with poor safety records. Special enforcement operations target accident-prone workplaces and trades, such as new construction sites, repair, maintenance, alteration and addition works sites, waste treatment premises, logistics, cargo and container handling workplaces, and food and beverage services. Enforcement is increased in the summer to protect outdoor workers from heatstroke.

In 2016, the department served 2,399 improvement notices on companies and organisations, ordering them to improve safety conditions in their workplaces promptly, and 686 suspension notices to stop those work activities or the use of plant or substances that posed imminent risks of death or serious bodily injury to employees. The department secured 2,144 convictions, resulting in penalties totalling $24.4 million.

Promotion and Education

The department works with the Occupational Safety and Health Council (OSHC), major trade associations and labour unions to organise campaigns and thematic work safety seminars to promote occupational safety and health awareness among employers and employees in different industries. It also promotes the Occupational Safety Charter and Workplace Hygiene Charter, which urge employers and employees to maintain a safe and healthy environment at their workplaces, and organises safety award schemes for the construction and catering industries. In 2016, the department held 2,097 courses, lectures and talks to help some 68,300 employees better understand occupational safety and health and the relevant laws.

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