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EMPLOYMENT
There are no legal restrictions on hours of work for men, although the regulations provide for a pre-employment medical examination of men employed underground or in tunnelling operations, and for periodical medical examinations of men under the age of 21 employed underground. Generally, men employed in industry work between eight and nine hours a day. Government employees and those working for the better employers in the private sector may work shorter hours, but usually not less than seven hours a day. Restrictions on the hours of work for women and young people in in- dustry have resulted in a decrease in the number of hours worked by men employed alongside women and young people in the same concern.
The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 1977, which came into effect on January 7, increased the daily rate of sickness allowance from half the normal wages to two- thirds. It also reduced the qualifying period from three months to one month, and increased the maximum possible accumulation of paid sickness days from 24 to 36 days.
The Employment (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance 1977 increased the rate of severance pay from a third to half a month's pay for each year of valid service for monthly-rated employees and from 10 to 13 days' wages for daily-rated and piece- rated employees. The amendment ordinance, effective from June 3, 1977, also provides for counting valid service retrospectively to August 23, 1966 an increase of three years.
The Employment (Amendment) (No. 3) Ordinance 1977 stipulates that, from January 1, 1978, all employees covered by the ordinance are entitled to seven con- secutive days' annual leave with pay after 12 months' employment under a 'continuous contract' with the same employer. At the request of the employee, four consecutive days of paid annual leave should be granted at one time, and the remaining days either consecutively or separately at another time within the relevant 12-month period. Payment in lieu for any part of annual leave is only allowed on termination of em- ployment.
The Employment (Amendment) (No. 4) Ordinance 1977, effective from November 1, 1977, provides for the protection of up to two months' wages for employees of sub-contractors and nominated sub-contractors in the building and construction industry by imposing a vicarious liability on all principal contractors, nominated sub- contractors and superior sub-contractors in default of payment of wages to such workers.
The Companies (Amendment) Ordinance 1977 and the Bankruptcy (Amendment) Ordinance 1977, effective from February 4, 1977, rank claims for wages in lieu of notice equal in priority with the payment of wages and salary, statutory Crown debts and severance pay in liquidation or bankruptcy, subject to a maximum of $2,000. With effect from April 1, 1977, the two separate ceilings on priority payment of wages and severance pay were raised from $6,000 to $8,000 for each employee. The two amendment ordinances incorporate the former provisions of the Workmen's Com- pensation Ordinance concerning priority payment of workmen's compensation.
Trade Unions
With the exception of a small, neutral and independent segment, most employee unions are either affiliated to, or associated with, one of two local federations registered