What's News

Since 2003, with your support, our E&M Safety Walk was held successfully in the past years. This year, we are pleased to launch again that the captioned event will be held in the morning of 7 December 2008 at Tai Tong Lychee Valley (大棠荔枝山莊) in Yuen Long. Programme includes morning drill exercise, hiking and Safety Q&A, BBQ and lucky draw. Registration can be made starting from 1 Nov 2008.

Employers Subsidy Scheme (資助僱主訓練學徒計劃) has been launched by CICTA (建造業議會訓練學院). It aims to promote long-term employment of the CICTA's graduates and provision of proper training by employers.

To encourage Contractors and Sub-contractors participating this scheme, a monthly subsidy of $1,800 or $2,000 for each graduate would be provided by CICTA.

A "Work Trial Scheme" has been launched by Employment Services Division, Labour Department, which is to enhance the employability of job seekers who have difficulties in finding jobs through one-month (30 days) work trial. Its self-explanatory letter and a leaflet are attached for your reference.

The Construction Workers Registration Authority (CWRA) has published in the website the latest news in respect of the application for exemption from providing card reading device on construction site.

CICTA runs 1 class each year (now considering expansion to 2 classes), producing about 30 trainees. The next batch will be available mid July, this month. Students are usually of F5 standard, not necessarily with working experience. The short course lasts for 70 full days, covering a wide range of construction and drafting related topics. They have the basics but of course don't expect them to be readily skilled. Further on job training is a must for them to be productive. With serious shortage of draftsmen in our industry, these graduates can certainly help to quench.

The syllabus and recruitment application form are attached. Be free to contact CICTA directly.

For enhancing the knowledge of our members about safety and insurance practices in building services sector of the construction industry, our Federation and The Federation of Hong Kong Electrical & Mechanical Industries Trade Unions (EMF) are pleased to co-organize the captioned seminar for members with the following detials :

Date & Time : 18th July 2008 (Friday)
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Venue : Room 103, Duke of Windsor Social Service Building,
15 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong.

Fee : * Member of EMF / FEMC / ACRA / ECA / EMCA /FSICA / LECA / PSWTA : HK$20.- /head
* Non-member : HK$30.-/head

Medium : Cantonese with English Terminology

The Competition Policy Advisory Group (COMPAG) has published its ninth annual report. The Report outlines the group's work during the period July 2006 to June 2007, and also reviews the results of the public consultation exercise on competition policy conducted early the year.

The Report is published electronically and available online at the COMPAG website (www.compag.gov.hk).

香港機電工程商聯會感謝特首發表歷史性發展藍圖

香港機電工程商聯會（機電聯會）對行政長官曾蔭權昨天（10月10日）之施政報告表示極度歡迎。

機電聯會十分同意及支持特首各項施政綱領及新措施，從環境保護至國民教育等，特別是推動十大建設以繁榮經濟。其他措施如啟德郵輪碼頭及更新政府建築物老化的設備等，亦對機電行業的持續發展非常重要。

特首言基礎建設的投資可創造二十五萬個職位及千億的經濟增值。機電聯會認為此乃最佳之藏富於民及社會之法﹔且可加強社會和諧。香港背靠祖國面向世界，七個豐收肥牛年可待。特首之施政綱領及新措施將如魚之得水。

機電聯會會長趙雅各表示特首已領行數步，業界應立刻跟上，加強培訓，吸納員工，增强設備及預先尋求國內外合作伙伴等。

機電聯會感謝特首展開此歷史性發展藍圖，並明確指出發展方向和遠景。

As the Phase one Prohibition under the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance (CWRO) will take effect shortly on 1 September 2007, thus, Construction Workers Registration Authority (CWRA) has sent a letter to all contractors for their attention.

We have been informed by Economic Development and Labour Bureau that the Competition Policy Advisory Group (COMPAG) has published its 8th annual report. The report outlines the group's work during the period April 2005 to June 2006, and also summaries the recommendations of the Competition Policy Review Committee on a new competition law for Hong Kong. In accordance with the Government's "e-Government" initiative, the Report is published electronically and is available online at the COMPAG website, www.compag.gov.hk.

The Construction Workers Registration Authority (CWRA) has provided the updated information on Construction Workers Registration. Please refer to the attachment for your details.

(建造業工人註冊管理局呼籲建造業工友盡早辦理註冊)

We have been informed that the Construction Workers Registration Authority (CWRA) has decided to extend the deadline of registration from end of August till the 1st quarter of 2007. A letter from CWRA for appealing Construction Workers for early registration is attached for your attention.

Please note that in accordance with the Amendment Regulation, the registration of safety officers shall be valid for a period of 4 years subject to renewal or revalidation. Members are encouraged their registered safety officers to submit applications for renewal of their registrations as soon as possible.

The SMILE-SMC programme conducted by HKU (Hong Kong University) is now in its implementation stage. HKFEMC has participated actively over the development with quite a few representatives involved in various workshops and forums.

One of the 'products' is a web-based platform to help contractors, in particular small and medium sized ones, to improve their efficiency and productivity. We are invited to become members, free of charge during the trial period. Attached are the pamphlet and invitation letters. Be free to surf into http://smile.hku.hk to enroll.

A Briefing Session on Registration of Construction Workers had been held by FEMC on 20 January, 2006 at Duke of Windsor Social Service Building with a total attendance of over 110 members. We were honoured by two speakers, namely, Miss Annette Lam, Secretary from Registration of Construction Workers Authority and and Mr. P. L. Mok, Registration Officer, from Registration of Construction Workers Office.

Please be informed that under the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance, construction workers who carry out construction work on construction sites shall be registered. Registration will be conducted in four periods from 29 December 2005 to 31 August 2006 according to the birth month of workers.

To facilitate the implementation of the registration system in a systematic and orderly manner, companies / employers / organizations are encouraged to assist workers under their employment in putting in completed application forms to the Registration Offices through the arrangement of Group Submission.


Enclosed please find the Chinese version of “Guidance Notes on Group Submission of Application Forms” provided from CWRA for your information, no English version is available.

To promote harmonious labour relations in the construction industry, the Labour Department produces a leaflet named "Points To Note for Construction Employers【建築業僱主須知】" to set out in simple terms the provisions of the Employment Ordinance on payment of wages as well as some good people management practices in respect of entering into written contract, keeping proper records and distinguishing employment status. They hope this will help remind employers to comply with the provisions of the Ordinance as well as to avoid unnecessary disputes.

The leaflet is available both in Chinese and English by clicking into the following links :

Chinese : http://www.labour.gov.hk/public/pdf/wcp/PointToNoteCE.pdf

English : http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/PointToNoteCE.pdf

Hard Copies are kept in our FEMC office for members' collection. Please contact the FEMC Secretariat for arrangement.

In pursuit of providing high quality services to the community and promoting innovative design in the building industry, Architectural Services Department has carried out a comprehensive research on Universal Accessibility. Their goal is to increase awareness of accessibility issues in the design of buildings and open spaces to attain a more accessible and sustainable environment. It is very encouraging that the research paper has recently been awarded the Hong Kong Institute of Architects Annual Award 2004 – Special Architectural Award for Architectural Research.

If you would like to read the full report, please visit the ASD webpage under the category of Knowledge Sharing :
http://www.archsd.gov.hk/english/knowledge_sharing/ua/univ_access.htm

It is nice to hear that the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council has given approval to inject additional funding to the SME Funding Schemes, which are :
- The SME Export Marketing Fund (EMF) and SME Development Fund (SDF) will have an additional funding of $500 million;
- The total government loan guarantee commitment under the SME Loan Guarantee Scheme (SGS) will be increased from $6.6 billion to $10.6 billion;
- The application procedures for the EMF will be streamlined.

The information of "2010 Shanghai World Expo" is attached for members' information.