Labour Advisory Board Report 2009-2010 - Chapter 7

Committee on Labour Relations

7.1 Introduction

The Committee on Labour Relations (CLR) has been in place since May 1985 to advise on the promotion of harmonious labour relations and legislation on employment conditions and labour relations matters.

7.2 Terms of Reference

The committee is established to:

• advise on means to promote amicable relations and mutual understanding between employers and employees, and between their respective organisations;
• advise on legislative proposals on employment conditions and labour relations and review existing legislation; and
• advise on measures to be adopted by the Labour Department (LD) with a view to improving its conciliation service.

7.3 Composition

Members of CLR are appointed by the Commissioner for Labour. The composition of the committee for the term 2009-2010 is as follows:

Chairman:	Deputy Commissioner for Labour (Labour Administration)
Members:	Three employer representatives from the Labour Advisory Board Three employee representatives from the Labour Advisory Board Two employer representatives from outside the Labour Advisory Board Two employee representatives from outside the Labour Advisory Board A representative of Human Resources Practitioners Assistant Commissioner for Labour (Labour Relations)
Secretary:	A Labour Officer of the Labour Department

The membership list of the CLR for the term 2009-2010 is at Appendix IV.

7.4 Activities during the 2009-2010 Term

During the 2009-2010 term, CLR provided valuable advice to LD on a range of labour relations matters, including strategies in promoting the Employment Ordinance, good people management practices and family friendly employment practices, as well as ways to tackle wage defaults. CLR was informed of the legislative progress of the Minimum Wage Bill which sought to establish a regime of statutory minimum wage in Hong Kong and the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2009 which sought to introduce a new offence on non-payment of awards made by the Labour Tribunal or the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board. It also noted the review on the coverage of the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund.