*****************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:
The Housing Authority will set up a Working Group with wide representation from both workers and employers to monitor the implementation of improvement measures to secure and monitor payment of wages to construction workers.
Earlier this year, the authority introduced six improvement measures for incorporation into building contracts and associated nominated sub-contracts to prevent cases of wages in arrears and dispute in construction sites.
From September 2006, the measures were further extended to demolition contracts, where multi-layered sub-contracting and self-employed workers are common.
The measures are site access control and workers' attendance records; workers' employment agreement and records; wage payment monitoring system and records; sub-contractor management plan; provision of Labour Relations Officer on site; and employer's direct payment to workers in proven case of default.
"With the formation of the Working Group, the improvement measures will become even more transparent to the stakeholders," the Chairman of the authority's Building Committee, Mr Ip Kwok-him, said.
"Their involvement will let us tap not only their invaluable views from different perspectives, but also their shared ownership to promote these initiatives among contractors, sub-contractors and workers alike," he said.
The Working Group for Monitoring Wages Payment to Workers will monitor the implementation, review the measures and recommend on enhancement. Site visits will be conducted if necessary.
Membership of the Working Group will include representatives from the Housing Department and Labour Department as official members and representatives from the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Mandatory Provident Fund Scheme Authority and the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau as ad-hoc members.
The Housing Department will invite stakeholders to join the Working Group including the Hong Kong Construction Association Ltd., Hong Kong Federation of Electrical and Mechanical Contractor Ltd., Hong Kong Construction Sub-Contractors Association,
Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union, Construction Site Workers General Union and Hong Kong and Kowloon Electrical Engineering and Appliances Trade Workers Union.
To monitor contractors' performance on wages payment, the Housing Department will be also introducing relevant assessment items in the Performance Assessment Scoring System for the Building Contracts and the associated Building Service Nominated Sub-contracts in due course.
Ends/Friday, October 13, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:20
NNNN