7.11
The growth of occupational benefit schemes may be stimulated by making them more attractive to employees who do not expect to stay with one employer throughout their working life. At present, many employees would lose their existing title to benefit if they moved to another employment, or would at best receive a return of contributions. Legislation in recent years in many countries (for example in the United States, the United Kingdom and West Germany) has been designed to pro- tect employees changing jobs against the loss of their title to benefit. However, such legislation was not introduced until occupational benefit schemes had developed much further than they have in Hong Kong; and the Government does not consider that the time has come for considering the introduction of such legislation. If it were introduced now, it might inhibit the natural growth of schemes though the Government proposes to discuss the possibility of giving some protection to employees, who change jobs or retire early, with the organisations primarily involved, as part of the consultations mentioned in para. 7.5.
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