Labour Department Annual Report

Labour Department Annual Report 2003

CHAPTER 2 THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT

2.1 The Labour Department is the principal agency in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government responsible for the execution and co-ordination of major labour administration functions. For details of our structure and services, please visit our website: http://www.labour.gov.hk/.

Labour Department

Vision, Mission and Values

2.2 Our Vision

To be a leading labour administrator in the region—our aim is to enhance the well-being of our workforce progressively and promote the safety and health of those at work.

2.3 Our Mission

To improve the utilisation of human resources by providing a range of employment services to meet changes and needs in the labour market;
To ensure that risks to people's safety and health at work are properly managed by legislation, education and promotion;
To foster harmonious labour relations through promotion of good employment practices and resolution of labour disputes; and
To improve and safeguard employees' rights and benefits in an equitable manner.

2.4 Our Values

We believe in:

Professional excellence
Pro-activeness
Premier customer service
Partnership
Participation

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Key Programme Areas

2.5 The department has four key areas of work, namely, Labour Relations, Safety and Health at Work, Employment Services, and Employee Rights and Benefits. The objectives of these areas are set out below:

Labour Relations

To foster and maintain harmonious employer and employee relations in the non-government sector.

Safety and Health at Work

To help employers and employees control their risks at work through legislation, education and promotion.

Employment Services

To provide free employment assistance and counselling services to help job-seekers find suitable jobs and employers fill their vacancies.

Employee Rights and Benefits

To improve and safeguard the rights and benefits of employees.

2.6 Detailed functions and major activities of these programme areas are contained in the following chapters.

Central Support Services

2.7 The Administration Division assumes the primary responsibility for financial, personnel and general resources management.

2.8 The Information and Public Relations Division is responsible for the department's overall strategy on publicity and public relations. It explains the policy and work of the department to the public through the extensive use of the media, and co-ordinates the production of major departmental publications.

2.9 The Development Division mainly oversees matters relating to the application of International Labour Conventions, participation in International Labour Organization activities, and liaison with labour administration counterparts of the Mainland or other countries. Besides, the division manages the departmental reference library, compiles labour statistics, collects information pertaining to labour administration and co-ordinates training activities for staff of the Labour Administration Branch. In addition, the division serves as the secretariat of the Labour Advisory Board providing support services to the Board.

2.10 The Prosecutions Division and the Legal Services Division help enforce relevant legislation by instituting prosecutions against suspected offenders. Major statistics on prosecution work are at Figure 2.1.

2.11 The Occupational Safety and Health Training Centre organises and co-ordinates training and development activities for staff of the Occupational Safety and Health Branch.

2.12 The Information Technology Management Unit offers support services and advices to the development and management of information technology (IT) services.

2.13 An organisation chart of the Labour Department is set out at Figure 2.2.

Customer-oriented Services

2.14 Performance standards and targets are laid down for a wide range of services. A Customer Liaison Group has been formed to collect feedback from users of the department's pledged services. For details of our performance pledges, please visit the following webpage: http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/perform/content.htm.

The Customer Liaison Group meets.

Advisory Boards and Committees

2.15 Various advisory boards and committees provide expert advice on labour matters and serve as useful forums for the department's consultation work. The most important one is the Labour Advisory Board (LAB) which is set up to advise the Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour (Labour) on matters affecting labour, including legislation and Conventions and Recommendations of the International Labour Organization. The terms of reference and composition of the LAB and its membership for the year 2003 are in Figure 2.3.

A brainstorming session was held in November 2003 for LAB members to exchange views with the department's directorate on topical labour issues.

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