Labour Advisory Board Report 2009-2010 - Chapter 2
About the Board
2.1 Introduction
The Labour Advisory Board (LAB) is a non-statutory body appointed by the Chief Executive to advise the Commissioner for Labour on labour matters including legislation and the application of international labour Conventions. The Commissioner for Labour is the ex-officio chairman of LAB. LAB has 12 members, six representing employers and six representing employees.
LAB plays an important part in the formulation of labour policies and gives advice on labour legislation.
2.2 History
1927 |
LAB was first appointed.
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1946 |
LAB became a tripartite body, with the Labour Officer as the ex-officio chairman.
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1947 |
The Commissioner of Labour became the ex-officio chairman of LAB.
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1950 |
LAB was reconstituted and election was introduced for the first time.
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1977 |
The membership of LAB was increased by 4 to 12.
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1985 |
The term of office of LAB was extended from one to two years.
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1989 |
The number of nominated employer representatives and elected employee representatives was increased from four to five.
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1993 |
LAB members were entitled to honorarium and could initiate agenda items.
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2003 |
The Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour (Labour) became the ex-officio chairman of LAB.
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2007 |
The Commissioner for Labour became the ex-officio chairman of LAB.
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2.3 Terms of Reference
LAB advises the Commissioner for Labour on matters affecting labour, including legislation and Conventions and Recommendations of the International Labour Organisation. It may appoint such committees as it considers necessary and include any person not being a member of LAB to serve on such committees.
2.4 Composition
Chairman: | Commissioner for Labour (ex-officio) |
Members: |
Employer representatives
Five members nominated by major employer associations:
One member appointed ad personam Employee representativesFive members elected by registered employee unions One member appointed
ad personam
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Secretary: | A Senior Labour Officer of the Labour Department |
2.5 LAB Election of Employee Representatives 2008
An election, by secret ballot, was held on 25 October 2008 for the registered employee unions to elect employee representatives for the 2009-2010 term. In this election, 11 candidates vied for five seats as employee representatives on LAB. Out of a total of 391 employee unions registered as electors, 368 took part in the election.
On the employer side, the five major employer associations were invited in late 2008 to nominate representatives to sit on LAB. The remaining two members, one representing employers and the other representing employees, were appointed by the Government ad personam.
The appointment of the 12 members was published in the Government Gazette.
The Chairman of LAB, Mrs Cherry Tse Ling Kit Ching (3rd from left), and the elected employee representatives.
2.6 Committees of LAB
To enable LAB to cope with the wide range of complex matters requiring its attention, and to encourage greater participation by members and persons outside LAB, five committees on special subject areas have been set up under the auspices of LAB. They are:
- Committee on Employees' Compensation
- Committee on Employment Services
- Committee on the Implementation of International Labour Standards
- Committee on Labour Relations
- Committee on Occupational Safety and Health
LAB members and over 30 persons including employer and employee representatives from outside LAB, academics, professionals, as well as representatives from government departments, public bodies and concern groups, served on the five committees. Details of the terms of reference, composition and work of these committees are given in their relevant chapters. Membership lists of the committees are at Appendices I to V.