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The following is issued on behalf of the Standard Working Hours Committee:
The Standard Working Hours Committee (SWHC) held its fifth meeting today (January 24). The Committee considered the progress reports of its two working groups (WGs) on "Working Hours Consultation" and "Working Hours Study".
The Chairperson of the Committee, Dr Leong Che-hung, said after the meeting, "The Committee supported the Consultation Group's proposed consultation arrangements, including the commencement of public engagement and consultation on working hours by first holding meetings with major employers' associations and labour organisations on January 28 and February 13 and 14 this year. The Committee will thereafter hold a series of symposia and forums to listen to the views of other relevant organisations and the community at large on working hours issues. Apart from consultation sessions, members of the public are welcome to give views by letters and email. For details, please visit the Committee website (www.swhc.org.hk).
"To enhance public understanding of the subject of working hours, the Committee is producing TV promotional programmes which will be broadcast in March this year. In addition, roving exhibitions will later be staged in various districts."
Dr Leong added, "On working hours study, the Committee at today's meeting was briefed by the relevant government department on the relationship between working hours and the macroeconomic environment over the years, and an analysis of the socio-economic characteristics of employees with relatively longer working hours. The Study Group will continue to discuss other relevant factors of a working hours policy and in the second quarter of this year conduct dedicated working hours surveys to collect working hours statistics and views on working hours issues from employed persons, including those engaged in occupations/professions with relatively longer working hours or distinctive working hours patterns."
He said, "The two WGs are making good progress, and will aim to submit their respective reports to the Committee by the end of this year for deliberation and formulation of future work."
The SWHC comprises a Chairperson and 23 members, including 12 serving members (employer and employee representatives) of the Labour Advisory Board. Of the remaining 11 members, one each comes from the labour sector and the business field, and three each from academia, the community and the Government.
Ends/Friday, January 24, 2014
Issued at HKT 14:55
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