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The unemployment rate of the construction industry has eased for two consecutive months while the industry's work safety record has seen marked and sustained improvement in the past decade, said the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the 23rd anniversary of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union cum Lu Pan Patron¡¦s Day celebration dinner this (July 30) evening.
Mr Cheung said that the unemployment rate in the construction sector fell from 12.7% in February to April to 11.8% in April to June with that of the decoration and maintenance sector recording a drop from 21.6% to 16.6%. The employment situation in the construction industry is expected to improve further as a series of public works projects are launched gradually.
Mr Cheung noted that the construction industry is a high-risk trade with a higher record of serious accidents. However, with the concerted efforts of the Government, employers, employees, trade organisations, business associations and labour unions, the safety performance of the construction industry has improved substantially in the past decade. The number of industrial accidents and the accident rate per 1,000 workers fell from 14,078 and 198.4 in 1999 to 3,033 and 61.4 in 2008, representing a decrease of 78.5% and 69.1% respectively.
As the share of minor works accidents in the total number of industrial accidents has increased from 37.9% in 2004 to 51.3% in 2008, Mr Cheung reminded stakeholders not to overlook the safety aspect of minor works.
"Not only do the injured workers and their families suffer, employers and the community at large will also have a heavy price to pay. Works may be delayed and productivity as well as staff morale could be adversely affected. Industrial accidents will also lead to insurance claims and increase the medical and welfare expenses to be shouldered by society.
"In view of the expedition of minor works projects, the Government will be vigilant in reducing work accidents through legislation, enforcement, publicity and promotion, education, training, etc," Mr Cheung said.
On the labour disputes and claims handled by the Labour Department for the construction industry, Mr Cheung noted that the number had dropped by 30% from 1,591 in 2007 to 1,114 in 2008. There were 467 cases in the first half of 2009, representing a drop of 25% over 620 cases in the first half of 2008.
Mr Cheung reiterated that the Government is very concerned about the rights of construction workers. In 2008, 149 summonses for wage offences were convicted in the construction sector, showing a decrease from 199 in 2007. However, a total of 93 summonses were recorded in the first half of this year, representing an increase of 39% from 67 summonses over the same period last year.
Mr Cheung said he hoped that unions and stakeholders would enhance communication and improve bilateral relations and that employees, employers and the Government would continue to work together to promote harmonious labour relationships and work safety.
Ends/Thursday, July 30, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:25
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