For discussion EC(96-97)43
on 13 November l996

ITEM FOR ESTABLISHMENT SUBCOMMITTEE
OF FINANCE COMMITTEE

HEAD 90 - LABOUR DEPARTMENT
Subhead 001 Salaries

Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee the retention of the following supernumerary post in the Labour Department for the period up to 31 December 1997 in order to enable the continued secondment of a suitable officer to the Employees Retraining Board -

l Assistant Commissioner for Labour
(D2) ($102,900 - $109,250)

PROBLEM

The Employees Retraining Board (ERB) requires employment of an experienced and able Executive Director to head the Office of the Board - the executive arm of the Board, and to implement the results of the review of the Employees Retraining Scheme (ERS) in the coming year. We have seconded an Assistant Commissioner for Labour (AC for L) to fill the existing post of Executive Director secondment to of the ERB. The supernumerary post which makes the secondment possible will lapse on 31 December 1996.

PROPOSAL

2. We propose to retain the supernumerary post of AC for L for another year up to 31 December 1997 to continue the existing arrangements for seconding a suitable officer from Labour Department (LD) to the ERB as its Executive Director.

JUSTIFICATION

3. The Legislative Council enacted the Employees Retraining Ordinance in October 1992. The Ordinance provides for the establishment of the ERB to offer retraining courses to help local employees adjust to changes in the employment market through the acquisition of new skills.

4. In accordance with Section 3 of the Employees Retraining Ordinance, the ERB comprises a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman who are non-Government officials, representatives of employers, employees, Government departments and training bodies. The Office of the Board, which provides executive support and implements the Board’s decisions, works under an Executive Director. Members approved in July 1993 the creation of a supernumerary AC for L post in the LD for the period up to 31 December 1994 to accommodate an AC for L on secondment to the office of ERB as Executive Director (EC(93-94) Item 34). Members further approved in December 1994 the retention of this supernumerary post for another two years up to 31 December 1996 (EC(94-95) Item 51). We consider the secondment appropriate because of the officer’s experience in employment and labour matters and close connections with employers’ and employees’ associations and training bodies.

5. In April 1996, we started a comprehensive review of the ERS with a view to improving its effectiveness in the light of the latest developments in the labour market. The review is nearing completion and we plan to consult the public on the results before the end of the year. To ensure the smooth implementation of the outcome of the review, especially during the initial period, we propose to continue seconding an experienced AC for L from LD to the Office of the ERB for another year up to 31 December 1997. The main duties of the post and the organization chart of the Office of the ERB are at Enclosures 1 and 2 respectively.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

6. The notional annual salary cost at mid-point and the full annual average staff cost of the proposal, including salaries and staff on-costs, are -

Rank

Notional
Annual
Salary Cost
at Mid-point
$

Full Annual
Average Staff
Cost
$

No. of
Post

Assistant Commissioner for Labour

1,273,200

2,425,260

1

7. This proposal will have no additional financial implications as we will recover full salary cost, including on-costs, from the ERB.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

8. Members approved in July 19936 creation of a supernumerary AC for L post for the period up to 31 December 1994 to accommodate an AC for L on secondment to the Office of the ERB as Executive Director. Members subsequently agreed to retaining the supernumerary post for the period up to 31 December 1996.

CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH COMMENTS

9. The Civil Service Branch supports the proposed retention of the supernumerary post.

ADVICE OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON DIRECTORATE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

10. As we propose to keep the AC for L post on a supernumerary basis, we will report the retention of it, if approved, to the Standing Committee on Directorate Salaries and Conditions of Service in accordance with the agreed procedure.

Education and Manpower Branch
November 1996

Enclosure 1 to EC (96-97)43

Job Description of the Executive Director of Office of Employees Retraining Board (Assistant Commissioner for Labour)

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1.

to develop and to expand the network of training bodies and training centres to meet the strong demand for retraining among local employees aged 30 and over;

2.

to develop new courses and retraining programmes to meet market demands;

3.

to activate community resources in the provision of retraining and employment opportunities for retrainees;

4.

to secure the support of employers’ associations and trade unions through direct participation in identifying market opportunities, market needs, in the design of the retraining programmes, and in monitoring the outcome of retraining;

5.

to develop a quality assurance system for the retraining programme;

6.

to ensure cost effectiveness of creating and facilitating healthy market competition among training providers;

7.

to secure public support for the retraining programme through pro-active publicity and public relations programmes;

8.

to administer the Employees Retraining Board Office; and

9.

to implement the recommendations of the Consultancy Study on the Employees Retraining Scheme.

Last Updated on 12 August 1999