Although the Equal Opportunities Commission's image has been damaged by a number of incidents in the previous year, the commission's credibility still remains intact, the commission's chairman Raymond Tang says.

Speaking on a radio talk show this morning, Mr Tang said an increase in the number of people and organisations seeking help from the commission proved that the public still had confidence in the commission's work.

The chairman said the recent member-replacement is good to the commission because it will enhance public understanding about the body by allowing more people to get involved in the body's work.

The working direction and the anti-discrimination work of the commission will continue, Mr Tang stressed.

Workload increasing

There has been an increase in the number of people submitting complaints to the commission. A total of 430 people lodged complaints to the commission in 2002, 490 in 2003, and 445 in 2004.

Among the complaints the commission received, around 43% were related to pregnancy discrimination. Of them, 61% were settled through conciliation.

'Family friendliness' to be promoted

Mr Tang said the commission will work with the Women's Commission to promote the "Family Friendliness" concept to enhance employers' awareness of their staff's family status.

It is hoped that the promotion will help employers understand their employees' family needs and formulate company policies which can solve problems arising from their staff's family status.

Mr Tang said 36% of the complaints the commission received involved sexual harassment and the problem in schools seems to be alarming.

The sexual harassment complaints include making inappropriate jokes, the chairman said, adding the EOC will step up the publicity work with the help of the Women's Commission.