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The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, today (September 11) called on employers to adopt family-friendly employment practices and strengthen communication with employees for the benefit of both parties.
Speaking at the "Seminar on Good People Management and Family-friendly Employment Practices" held by the Labour Department today, Mr Cheung said a family-friendly working environment could contribute to the effective operation of enterprises and well-being of employees, thus achieving a win-win situation.
"With keen competition in the manpower market, employers can no longer attract and retain talent by monetary reward and fringe benefits only. Employers should also adopt measures to increase employees' sense of belonging, enhance their commitment to the enterprise and strengthen their dedication to work.
"Such measures could include creating a people-oriented corporate culture in the pursuit of excellence, strengthening communication mechanisms to allow more employees to participate in decision-making and express their views, and giving employees adequate opportunities to develop their potential," said Mr Cheung.
"The Labour Department is committed to encouraging employers to adopt employee-oriented, open and impartial people management measures and promoting family-friendly employment practices. Employers could show their care for employees by adopting suitable measures to cater for their family needs at different life stages," he added. These include granting leave for special occasions such as wedding leave, paternity leave and compassionate leave. Employers are also encouraged to adopt flexible work arrangements and provide various forms of support to employees and their family members, such as offering counselling services for handling stress and emotion, medical coverage, child care services and organising activities for employees and their families.
The Labour Department would continue to play the role of a facilitator in promoting family-friendly employment practices and encouraging communication and good people management measures through the network of Human Resources Managers Clubs formed under different trades and industry-based tripartite committees, and drive home the family-friendly messages and practices by stepping up publicity and public education.
About 300 employers, human resources practitioners, representatives of trade unions and employers' associations joined today's seminar. The Administrative Head of the Department of Business Administration, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Dr Ricky Szeto, gave a talk on how to attract talent and enhance enterprise cohesion through people-oriented management measures. The Senior Human Resources Manager, New Territories East Cluster, Hospital Authority, Mr Peter Leung; General Manager - Human Resources, MTR Corporation Limited, Ms Alison Wong; and Country Manager, Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Limited, Mr Stephen Leung also shared their experience in adopting family-friendly employment practices and enhancing employees' participation.
Ends/Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:19
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