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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/eng/text/index.htm.
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
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.
| Index |
Chapter 1 | Chapter
2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter
4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter
6 | Chapter 7 |
|
Figures and Charts |
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