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Monday, December 17, 1973
CHINESE WINTER SOLSTICE FESTIVAL
Statutory Holiday for Industrial Workers
The Commissioner of Labour, Mr. I.R. Price, today reminded
employers that Saturday, December 22 the day of the Chinese Winter
Solstice Festival - is one of the six statutory holidays to which industrial
workers are entitled under the Industrial Employment (Holidays with Pay
and Sickness Allowance) Ordinance.
Mr. Price said that with few exceptions, all manual workers in
industrial undertakings paid on a monthly, daily, or piece-rate basis must
be given a holiday on that day.
Non-manual workers in industrial undertakings
earning not more than $700 a month had the same right.
To qualify for holiday pay, which is in addition to the four
rest days a month under the Employment Ordinance, a worker must have worked
at least 180 days during a period of 12 months and at least 20 days in the
28 days preceding December 22,
"A worker who does not qualify to receive holiday pay must also
be given a holiday," Mr. Price said.
"An employer may grant a holiday on another day instead of December
22, but he must do so within 60 days after that date and must post a notice
of his intention at least 48 hours in advance,"
The Commissioner added that the provisions of the Industrial
Employment (Holidays with Pay and Sickness Allowance) Ordinance had been
extended and incorporated in the Employment Ordinance.
"The revised law,
which will become effective on January 1, 1974, apply to all manual workers
irrespective of earnings and non-manual workers earning $1,500 a month or less.
The new provisions also simplifies the qualification for holiday pay," he said.
The six
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