EMPLOYMENT
The council's occupational safety and health employees' participation scheme continued to offer financial assistance to employees' organisations running safety and health activities. During 1994, 57 such organisations received subsidies under the scheme.
Employees' Compensation
The Employees Compensation Division of the Labour Department administers the Employees' Compensation Ordinance and the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance. The division ensures that injured employees and dependants of deceased employees covered by the Employees' Compensation Ordinance obtain compensation from their employers in respect of occupational diseases, injuries or deaths caused by accidents arising out of and in the course of employment. It also ensures that persons covered by the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance obtain speedy compensation from the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund, which is financed by a levy imposed on the construc- tion and quarrying industries.
The Employees' Compensation Assistance Scheme makes payments of statutory compensation and damages awarded under common law, which are due to an injured employee or dependants of a deceased employee where an employer defaults or an insurer becomes insolvent. It also covers claims from employers failing to obtain indemnity from their insolvent insurers. The division also administers a loan scheme to provide quick financial relief in the form of interest-free loans of up to $15,000 in each case to employees injured at work and to dependants of employees who die from work-related accidents.
Under the two-tier Employees' Compensation Assessment Board system, employees with work-related injuries which are likely to result in permanent incapacity are assessed by the boards at 12 major hospitals. In 1994, ordinary assessment boards convened 545 sessions and completed assessments of 15 094 cases referred to them by the Commissioner for Labour, and 1 280 review cases. Special assessment boards convened seven sessions and completed assessments of four cases referred to them by the ordinary assessment boards, and three review cases.
A total of 1081 pneumoconiosis cases were awarded compensation in the form of monthly payments from the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund. The Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board, established to administer the fund, also financed research, educational and publicity programmes to enhance awareness of pneumoconiosis and to promote prevention of the disease.
Pneumoconiosis sufferers who were diagnosed before January 1, 1981 and who are not covered by the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance, receive ex gratia payments on a quarterly basis from the government.
The Employees' Compensation Ordinance was amended in July to provide for compensa- tion to employees who are injured by accident on their way to or from work when a typhoon signal No. 8 or above, or red or black rainstorm warning signal, is issued.
Telephone Enquiry Service
The General Enquiry Telephone Service of the Labour Department handles enquiries on the Employment Ordinance and its subsidiary regulations, the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Ordinance and matters relating to the employment of foreign domestic helpers.
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