(8) Labour Legislation
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86.
Our last session was noticeable for the volume and
importance of labour legislation.
87.
For example:
Entitlement to holidays was radically improved. The number of
statutory, holidays was increased from 6 to 10; the number of annual
rest days was increased from 48 to 52; and provision was made for a
week's paid annual leave from 1978 onwards. The rate of severance
pay was increased from 1/3 to 1/2 a month's pay for each year of
service, and extended retrospectively to 1966.
Sickness allowance was increased from to 2/3 days pay with maximum
entitlement raised from 24 to 36 days.
The Employment Ordinance was amended to provide fuller protection of
wages.
In order to eradicate the employment of children in industry, the
maximum penalty for the offence was raised to $10,000 and this is
proving a more effective deterrent.
Overtine work by young person is being abolished by stages
ending in January 1980.
Your Government will introduce some more labour legislation
in the coming session:
The arrangements proposed last year to compensate workers suffering
from silicosis and asbestosis have taken much longer to work out
than we had hoped, but I expect a draft bill to be introduced
very shortly. Amendments to the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance
will be introduced:
To require employers to meet cuch fees as are charged
for medical attention to persons injured in the course of employ-
ment, and to require them to meet the cost of repair and
replacement of prothesis and surgical appliances.
/And to place...........