Chapter 2 Labour Department

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

Vision, Mission and Values

2.2Our Vision

We aspire to be a leading labour administrator in the region. Our aim is to enhance the well-being of our workforce progressively and to promote the safety and health of those at work at a pace commensurate with the socioeconomic development of Hong Kong.

2.3Our 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 enforcement, 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.

2.4Our Values

We believe in:

• Professional excellence
• Proactiveness
• Premier customer service
• Partnership
• Participation

Key Programme Areas

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

Labour Relations

• To foster and maintain harmonious employer and employee relations in establishments outside the government sector.

Safety and Health at Work

• To help employers and employees ensure that occupational safety and health risks at workplaces are properly controlled and minimised through inspection and enforcement, education and training, as well as publicity and promotion.

Employment Services

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

Employees’ Rights and Benefits

• To improve and safeguard the rights and benefits of employees.

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

Central Support Services

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

2.8The Information and Public Relations Division is responsible for the LD’s overall strategy on publicity and public relations. It mounts extensive publicity and explains the policy and work of the LD to the public through the media, and coordinates the production of publications.

2.9The International Liaison Division oversees matters relating to the application of International Labour Conventions in Hong Kong, the LD’s participation in the activities of the International Labour Organisation, and liaison with labour administration authorities in the Mainland and other places. It also provides secretariat support to the Labour Advisory Board (LAB).

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

2.11The Staff Training and Development Division is responsible for staff training and development of the Labour Administration Branch as well as coordinating training activities.The Registration and Staff Training Division organises and coordinates training and development activities for staff of the Occupational Safety and Health Branch.

2.12The Information Technology Management Division offers support to the development and management of information technology services.

2.13An organisation chart of the LD is set out in Figure 2.2.

Customer-oriented Services

2.14Performance 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 LD’s pledged services. For the LD’s updated performance pledges, please visit the webpage: www.labour.gov.hk/eng/perform/pledge.htm.

Advisory Boards and Committees

2.15The LD consults various advisory boards and committees on labour matters. The most important one is the LAB. It is a high-level and representative tripartite consultative body which gives advice on matters affecting labour, including legislation and Conventions and Recommendations of the International Labour Organisation. Chaired by the Commissioner for Labour, the LAB comprises members representing employees and employers. Its terms of reference, composition and membership for 2019-2020 are in Figure 2.3. An election of employee representatives for the 2021-2022 term of the LAB was held on 21 November 2020.