Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Ratification: 1997)

The Committee takes note of the Government's report for the period ending June 1990 and the attached documentation. It notes with interest that, according to the Government, the low unemployment rate - an estimated 1.4 per cent in the first quarter of 1990 - is tantamount to a situation of full employment.

The Committee notes the information on the tensions that have emerged in the labour market. Excess labour demand in relation to supply is reflected in the emergence of sectoral shortages of semi-skilled and unskilled labour to which the Government intends to respond with measures to lift certain restrictions on women's working hours, improve remuneration and working conditions so as to encourage new entrants to the labour market, offset the emigration of skilled workers by a greater training effort, and promote automation and increase productivity.

The Committee would be grateful if, in its next report, the Government would describe the measures taken or envisaged to match labour supply and demand on an occupational basis and to make work as productive as possible. It also notes the information on developments in vocational training contained in the report on the application of Convention No. 142 and asks the Government to continue to supply information on measures to coordinate education and training policies with prospective employment opportunities.