Labour Legislation
The Labour Department administers labour laws in force in
Hong Kong. Labour legislation has been enacted which,
supplemented by administrative measures, enables Hong Kong
to maintain internationally accepted standards.
During the year, 21 items of labour-related legislation were
enacted. Most were to give effect to certain reviews then
conducted on the relevant areas of employee rights and
benefits. In improving employees' rights and benefits, the
government adheres firmly to the system of tripartite
co-operation amongst employers, employees and the
government mainly through the role of the Labour Advisory
Board.
The Employment Ordinance was amended to give effect to
improvements to maternity protection, provisions on definition
of wages, protection of wage payment, end-of-year payment
provisions and long service payment for employees younger
than 45 (removal of reduction percentage). They also served
to strengthen protection on employees against unreasonable
termination of employment and variation of employment
contracts.
The Trade Unions Ordinance was amended to extend to
employers, employees and officers and members of registered
trade unions protection (previously available only to registered
trade unions) from any suit or legal proceeding in any civil
court against them in respect of any act done in contemplation
or furtherance of a trade dispute. This Ordinance was also
amended to relax restrictions on certain aspects of trade
unions' activities, including affiliation with organisations of
workers, employers and relevant professional organisations in
foreign countries, and formation of cross-industry trade union
federations.
The Labour Relations Ordinance was amended to streamline
and improve the flexibility of trade dispute settlement
procedures by establishing a mediation procedure.
The Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance was enacted to
extend for the first time the protection of safety and health at
work to employees in the non-industrial sectors.
|
