Education and Manpower Bureau

II. Employment

In the past year, we have been working on 23 pledges, of which:

The following sets out the detailed report for each main programme area.

Employment Services

Year Pledge Present Position
Action in Progress: On Schedule
1996 1. To improve the efficiency of our placement services by fully computerising all nine offices of the Local Employment Service and Job Matching Centre in early 1998. Project initiation, computer system analysis and design and site preparation for the computerisation programme have been completed. The system development stage has begun.
1996 2. To promote employees' rights and benefits by improving our information services to the workforce on protection of wages and employment rights, compensation for injury at work, employment services and job market information in 1997.

We have taken a series of measures to improve the information services for the workforce :

General information services on employees' rights and benefits

  • We have set up a queuing system to the 24-hour General Enquiry Telephone Service to facilitate enquirers' access to the operator service for enquiries on employees' rights and benefits, etc.

Information services for imported workers

  • We have produced publicity materials in different languages to promote the awareness amongst imported workers of their rights and benefits.

Information services on compensation for injury at work

  • We have completed the system design, procurement and site preparation for the Employees' Compensation System Replacement ?a new on-line integrated computer system to facilitate enquiries from injured employees.

Information services on employment services and job market information

  • We have organised 15 mobile exhibitions to disseminate vacancy information of the Supplementary Labour Scheme and the employment services offered by us.

  • We have produced 20 information sheets on jobs that are in demand in the current labour market. Such information is disseminated to job-seekers through careers counselling and placement services provided by the Labour Department.

  • We have completed the feasibility study of disseminating careers information on the Internet. Funding is being sought to implement the plan.



Vocational Training and Retraining

Year Pledge Present Position
Action Completed
1996 1. To amend the Employees Retraining Ordinance to enable new immigrants to enrol in the Employees Retraining Scheme (ERS). The Employees Retraining (Amendment) Ordinance 1997, which sought to extend the ambit of the ERS to include new immigrants, came into effect in January 1997.
Action in Progress: On Schedule
1996 2. To better equip those workers who have lost their jobs to re-enter the workforce by improving the effectiveness of the ERS in the light of the review of the ERS. We have completed a comprehensive review of the ERS and announced the results on 24獱une?997. We are now implementing the various improvements to the ERS arising from the review.
On-going Commitments
1996 3. To ensure that Hong Kong provides workers with the skills to meet the changing needs of our economy by reorganising the Vocational Training Council (VTC) in the light of the recent consultancy study. In concert with this Bureau, the VTC is working out a detailed phased implementation plan for the agreed reorganisation arising from the recent consultancy study.
1996 4. To work with the VTC over the next two to three years to ensure that our system of vocational education and training is able to meet the needs of our economy. Various initiatives, including a review of the Training Board/General Committee Structure, and the apprenticeship scheme as well as a resource review of all units within the VTC, are in hand to reorganise the VTC with a view to providing better training to meet the changing requirements of the industry.


Promoting the Safety and Well-Being of the Workforce

Year Pledge Present Position
Action Completed
1996 1. To enhance employees' benefits by expanding the definition of wages and improving the protection of wage payments, end-of-year payments and long-service payments for employees under 45 and with less than ten years of service. A Bill to this effect was introduced in May 1996. The Employment (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance 1997 which sought to expand the definition of wages and improve the protection of wage payments, end-of-year payments and long-service payments for employees under 45 and with less than ten years of service, was enacted in June 1997.
1996 2. To increase the rate of sickness allowance from two-thirds to four-fifths of an employee's normal daily wages by amending the Employment Ordinance. A Bill to this effect was introduced in July 1996. The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 1996 which sought to increase the rate of sickness allowance from two-thirds to four-fifths of an employee's normal daily wages was enacted in November?996.
1996 3. To improve the provisions on compensation for temporary incapacity arising from work-related injuries. A Bill to this effect was introduced in July 1996. The Employees Compensation (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance 1996 which sought to remove the three days' qualifying period for compensation for temporary incapacity arising from work-related injuries, and to increase the rate of periodical payments from two-thirds to four-fifths of normal earnings came into effect in January 1997.
1996 4. To improve the regulation of labour relations by introducing legislation in early 1997 to improve mediation procedures. The Labour Relations (Amendment) Ordinance 1997 which sought to improve the labour relations system was enacted in June?997.
1996 5. To provide individual employers, employees, officials and members of trade unions with immunity from civil litigation in respect of specific acts committed in contemplation or in furtherance of a trade dispute by introducing legislation in early 1997. The Trade Unions (Amendment) Ordinance 1997 which sought to provide individual employers, employees, officials and members of trade unions with immunity from civil litigation in respect of specific acts committed in contemplation or in furtherance of a trade dispute was enacted in June 1997.
1996 6. To improve the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund by extending the time limit to apply for ex-gratia payments from four to six months. This measure will improve protection to employees by giving them a longer period of time to apply under the Fund. The Protection of Wages on Insolvency (Amendment) Ordinance 1996 which sought to improve the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund by extending the time limit to apply for ex-gratia payments from four to six months was enacted in December 1996.
1996 7. To strengthen the protection of employees against unreasonable termination of employment and variation of terms of employment contracts by introducing legislation in early 1997. The Employment (Amendment) (No. 3) Ordinance 1997 which sought to strengthen the protection of employees against unreasonable termination of employment and variation of terms of employment contracts was enacted in June 1997.
1996 8. To extend the application deadline for claimants under the Occupational Deafness Compensation Scheme who had left their noisy occupations within six years before the commencement of the Scheme by one year so as to allow time for these claimants to submit applications for compensation by introducing legislation in late 1996. The Occupational Deafness (Compensation) (Amendment) Ordinance 1996 which sought to extend by one year the application deadline for claimants under the Occupational Deafness Compensation Scheme who had left their noisy occupations within six years before the commencement of the Scheme was enacted in December 1996.
1996 9. To press ahead with implementing in phases the remaining recommendations in the 1995 Consultation Paper on the Review of Industrial Safety by 1998. We aim to promote a culture of safety in the workplace through education, training and a better understanding of the causes of accidents. The Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance was enacted in May 1997 and the Occupational Safety and Health Regulation in June 1997. The maximum penalty for contravening general duty of care provisions in the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance was raised, for a proprietor, from a fine of $200,000 and imprisonment of six months to a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment of six months respectively and, for an employee, from $10,000 to $25,000 in May 1997.
1996 10. To review with Works Bureau the need to increase sanctions against contractors with unsatisfactory safety records. As a first step, Works Bureau will tighten up existing administrative sanctions on contractors with unsatisfactory site safety performance. The Works Bureau has tightened up its administrative sanctions against contractors with unsatisfactory safety performance assessed by independent safety audit of selected contracts in the Pay for Safety Scheme tendered after April 1996. Contractors with persistent poor safety performance may be suspended from tendering.
1996 11. To aim to extend safety and health protection to employees in the non-industrial sector by introducing new legislation in 1996-97. The Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance and the Occupational Safety and Health Regulation were enacted in May and June 1997 respectively.
Action in Progress: On Schedule
1996 12. To introduce legislation in 1997 to make it compulsory for employers to establish a safety management system for construction sites and shipyards employing 100 or more employees and for industrial undertakings using hazardous chemical substances and physical agents. We are preparing the draft legislation for introduction into the Legislative Council in the 1998-99 legislative session.
1996 13. To ensure that workers suffering from work-related deafness receive reasonable compensation by conducting a thorough review of the Occupational Deafness Compensation Scheme by 1997 and introducing legislative amendments if necessary. A Government Working Group comprising medical professionals, audiologist, representatives of employers and employees has completed the review. We have consulted the Labour Advisory Board and the concerned parties. We plan to introduce the relevant legislative proposals in 1997-98.
1996 14. To amend existing industrial safety legislation in 1997 to increase protection for those working at height on construction sites and in confined spaces as well as other high-risk areas. The Construction Sites (Safety) (Amendment) Regulation and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Confined Spaces) (Amendment) Regulation to tighten control on working at height and in confined spaces respectively are being finalised.
On-going Commitments
1996 15. To launch a new publicity strategy in late 1996 emphasising a healthy lifestyle and good habits in the workplace. We have published a new safety and health bulletin and intensified our publicity programme through the mass media, open seminars, exhibitions, posters and leaflets.
1996 16. To require, in co-operation with Works Bureau, public works contractors to provide specific induction safety training for all construction workers. From October 1995, all new government construction contracts have included safety training requirements. The Housing Authority and works departments have also agreed to provide financial incentives to construction workers who attend safety training courses offered by accredited bodies. The Works Bureau has required specific safety induction training for workers and supervisory staff in all contracts from August 1993, and green card training in major contracts from November 1995. Financial incentives to construction workers who attend accredited safety training courses will be provided in all Pay for Safety Scheme contracts tendered after October 1997.
1996 17. To actively promote the Occupational Safety Charter through encouraging voluntary subscription to the Charter by employer and employee bodies, safety practitioners and businesses. We will also arrange publicity such as newspaper and TV advertisements, videos, posters, guidance booklets and supporting materials. About 40 organisations including employee unions, trade associations, professional bodies, large enterprises, contractors and utility companies have subscribed to the Occupational Safety Charter. We have also launched a publicity programme to promote the Charter through Announcements of Public Interest, press releases, posters, leaflets and seminars.


Progress Report