Sustained improvements in labour relations are no easy task and can not be achieved without the concerted efforts of employees, employers and the Government, Permanent Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Matthew Cheung said.

Addressing the 14th International Employment Relations Association Conference, Mr Cheung encouraged employers to adopt family-friendly policies in the workplace, to create a win-win situation by achieving organisational effectiveness - and employee well-being.

"A family-friendly organisation is one that develops and implements policies allowing employees simultaneously to fulfil work and family responsibilities," Mr Cheung said.

"The aspirations of being able to work and providing care for one's family should not be mutually exclusive. The organisation will make the employee feel supported in balancing their work and outside work commitments.

5-day week aims to reduce pressure on employees

The Government would take forward the policy, Mr Cheung, by introducing a five-day week starting on  July 1.

"This initiative seeks to reduce pressure on the workforce and improve the quality of family life of civil servants without impairing operational efficiency.

"We believe that the initiative will bolster civil-service morale, promote social harmony and bring about a positive impact in the community. By doing so, the Government takes the lead and exemplifies how employees can be helped to enjoy better family lives," he said.

Mr Cheung pointed out the Government had no plan to mandate a five-day week in the private sector in Hong Kong.

Business sector support vital for family-friendly policies

"However, we will continue to seek partnerships with the business community and social service agencies to create a family-friendly environment in the workplace," he said.

Mr Cheung stressed that continual and sustainable support from the business sector was vital for developing family-friendly employment policies and practices in Hong Kong.

"I am acutely conscious of the fact that, in the real world, no policy or practice can be implemented effectively unless there is endorsement from the top. The senior management must show commitment to bringing family-friendly policies and practices into their workplaces.

"Making the workplace family-friendly should be seen as a shared responsibility. A dialogue between the management and the employees is most important for developing the policies and practices so that they can be adequately tailored to suit the needs of both the staff and the organisation," he added.

Gov't adopts "3 Ps"

Turning to the Government's adoption of the policy, Mr Cheung summarised its work as the "3 Ps", namely "Protecting", "Promoting" and "Practising".

The enactment of the Employment Ordinance laid down the statutory entitlements of employees, offering protection, he said.

The Labour Department actively encourages direct and frank communication between employers and employees, he added.

In practice, the Government has established programmes to provide employees with professional personal advice and counselling services on stress and emotional management.

Benefits far outweigh costs

Mr Cheung saw three merits in the family-friendly policy:

* The adoption of family-friendly employment practices helps to attract and retain talent in a competitive job market;

* It allows employees to enjoy a more balanced and less stressful life, which increases their productivity; and

* It highlights the company's commitment to and fulfilment of corporate social responsibility.

The benefits of adopting family-friendly employment policies and practices are numerous. "Even where additional costs are involved, the intrinsic benefits that can be brought to the business usually far outweigh the costs," Mr Cheung said.