4.
Appendix 5 (cont'
* 94.1% feel that subsidy should be given during maternity leave.
*
88.3% feel that the provision making it possible for the employer to dismiss a pregnant worker on the payment of compensation is unreasonable. 85.3% feel that husbands should also have leave during their wives' maternity period.
(For more detail analysis, please refer to tables in the appendix.) (Not attached)
CONCLUSION
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3.
This Survey clearly shows the heavy economic burden women workers have to bear. She has to support her family as well as her parents and relatives in China. Pregnancy exerts a further demand on her and her family due to loss of income and extra outlay of funds averaging 1,500 during and after the maternity period. In such case, the husband has no alternative but to seek continuous overtime work. Sometimes, the pregnant woman would volunteer for overtime work up to the last possible date. This situation exerts
a detrimental effect on the health of the mother and her child as well as that of her family life.
In addition, inadecuate nursery service forces the mother to give up her job, thus creating long term economic hardship on the family. Hong Kong's much needed work force is likewise reduced.
Fresent labour le::islation provides for ten weeks of maternity leave without pay to women workers, but most factories simply ignore the law. Those which do give maternity benefit often do not incorporate the full legal requirement. Some women workers, on the other hand, are willing to give up their rights due to economic pressure. In the case of factories which provide some form of paid maternity leave, the benefits are enjoyed only by managerial and supervisory staff.
specified women workers' right
Hong Kong's existing labour first, to the detriment of women
The International Labour Crganisation has to maternity leave and maternity subsidy. legislation only gives recognition to the workers. This Survey clearly shows the strong desire and need of women workers for paid maternity leave and job security during and after maternity.
RECU MUNDATION
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We urge the Hong Kong government to amend the law governing maternity benefits (Employment Ordinance, bection 3). The most urgent need is to provide for subsidy during maternity leave. Secondly, to consider allowing women workers to receive their regular wage during medical consultation, to consider providing some leave to husbands during their wives' maternity, and to strengthen the provision for job security for pregnant workers.
We believe that maternity subsidies should be one of the provisions in a comprehensive social insurance scheme the setting up of which is the best long-term answer to the problems identified by this furvey. This approach has been clearly advocated by the International Labour Organisation. Many Asian countries, some much less developed than Hong Kong, have paid maternity leave. Therefore we continue to urge for the setting up of a comprehensive social insurance schemes.
Baternity leave with pay is a right recognised by the international community, and implemented by every one of our Asian neighbours many of whom much poorer and much less developed than Hong Kong. Government's attitude towards this issue not only reflects its attitude towards half a million women factory workers, but all the women in Hong Kong also.