Members of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) met on 17 June 2010 (Thursday) at the 85^th EOC Meeting and discussed various matters related to the Commission’s business including the following:

Commission Members revisited the recommendations to establish an Equal Opportunities Tribunal (EOT) with a view to improve access to and the operation of the adjudication system for discrimination cases. The EOC first made the EOT recommendations to the Government in 2009. The overall aim of the recommendations was to provide for a user-friendly, formal and flexible adjudication system, so that discrimination cases could be conducted promptly, and without the need to engage professional legal representation. The EOC reiterated their in-principle support to set up an EOT. But considering the wider community might not yet have a full grasp of the idea, and that some details of the proposal might need further deliberations, the EOC resolved to initiate discussion with the stakeholders concerned with a view to gather wider community support before raising it with the Government.

 

The EOC also discussed the transitional arrangements for employees with disabilities under the Minimum Wage Bill. The Commission reiterated the principle that employees with disabilities should be covered by the Minimum Wage Legislation. Members noted the latest proposal by the Government to enable employees with disabilities to mutually agree with their respective employers to maintain their current salaries until such time when they decide to opt for work assessment. To ensure that employees with disabilities will not be subjected to abuse and discriminatory treatment, the Commission resolved that the EOC will monitor the situation closely after the legislation comes into effect. The EOC also asked the Government to undertake to review the transitional arrangements within a period of not more than two years.

 

Members examined the working reports from its four committees and noted the complaint statistics from January to May 2010 as follows :-

 

 

Complaints received	2010 (Jan to May)
Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO)	164
Sex Discrimination Ordinance (SDO)	138
Family Status Discrimination Ordinance (FSDO)	15
Race Discrimination Ordinance (RDO)*	34
Total :	351

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