Labour Advisory Board Report 2017-2018 - Chapter 2
Labour Advisory Board
2.1 Introduction
The Labour Advisory Board (LAB) is a non-statutory body appointed by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare (in exercise of the authority delegated by the Chief Executive) to advise the Commissioner for Labour on labour matters including legislation and Conventions and Recommendations of the International Labour Organisation. The Commissioner for Labour is the ex-officio chairman of LAB. LAB comprises 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 of employee representatives was introduced for the first time. |
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1977 | The membership of LAB was increased by four to 12. |
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1985 | The term of office of LAB was extended from one year to two years and more employee representatives were elected. |
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1989 | The numbers of nominated employer representatives and elected employee representatives were respectively 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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2013 | LAB members served on the Standard Working Hours Committee as ex-officio members by virtue of their LAB membership. |
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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. Where considered necessary, it may appoint committees and include any person not being a member of LAB to serve on the committees.
2.4 Composition
- the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce
- the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong
- the Employers’ Federation of Hong Kong
- the Federation of Hong Kong Industries
- the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce
2.5 Appointment for the 2017-2018 Term
An election by secret ballot was held on 12 November 2016 for the registered employee unions to elect employee representatives for the 2017-2018 term of LAB. In this election, 8 candidates vied for five seats as employee representatives on LAB. Of the 416 employee unions registered as electors, 388 took part in the voting.
On the employer side, the five major employer associations were invited in late 2016 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 appointments of 12 LAB members were published in the Government Gazette on 16 December 2016.
2.6 Committees of LAB
To enable LAB to better cope with the enormity of matters requiring its attention, and to allow opportunities for major stakeholders outside LAB to offer advice on individual labour issues, five committees on special subject areas have been set up under 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
In addition to LAB members, 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, etc. served on the committees.
Details of the terms of reference, composition and work of these committees are given in their relevant chapters below. Membership lists of the committees are at Appendices I to V.