FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1976
INCREASED SICKNESS BENEFITS OF WORKERS PROPOSED
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A BILL, AIMED AT INCREASING THE SICKNESS BENEFITS OF WORKERS, WAS PUBLISHED FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE NEW BILL, ENTITLED THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1977, SEEKS TO INCREASE THE SICKNESS PAY ALLOWANCE AND THE NUMBER OF PAID SICKNESS DAYS THAT MAY BE ACCUMULATED.
THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO REDUCE THE PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE BY WORKERS TO QUALIFY FOR PAID SICKNESS DAYS.
A SPOKESMAN OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT UNDER EXISTING LAWS AN EMPLOYEE WHO HAD WORKED FOR AN EMPLOYER UNDER A CONTINUOUS CONTRACT FOR THREE MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING SICKNESS DAYS WAS ENTITLED TO (A) ONE SICKNESS DAY AT HALF PAY FOR EVERY COMPLETED MONTH OF SERVICE, AND (B) AN ACCUMULATION OF SUCH SICKNESS DAYS UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 24 PAID SICKNESS DAYS.
UNDER THE BILL IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE QUALIFYING PERIOD FOR SICKNESS PAY BE REDUCED TO ONE MONTH'S CONTINUOUS SERVICE AND THAT THE RATE OF SICKNESS ALLOWANCE SHOULD BE INCREASED FROM ONE HALF OF THE DAILY WAGES TO TWO THIRDS AND THAT THE NUMBER OF PAID SICKNESS DAYS WHICH MIGHT BE ACCUMULATED (AT THE RATE OF ONE DAY FOR EVERY MONTH OF SERVICE) SHOULD BE INCREASED FROM 24 TO 36. THE PROPOSED NEW RATE OF SICKNESS ALLOWANCE IS IN LINE WITH THE RATE OF PAYMENT FOR TEMPORARY INCAPACITY UNDER THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE. THE INCREASED NUMBER OF SICKNESS DAYS WILL BENEFIT THOSE WITH LONGER SERVICE AND WHO SUFFER LONGER ABSENCES FROM WORK DUE TO SICKNESS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD HAD BEEN CONSULTED ON THESE PROPOSALS AND THAT THEY HAD GENERALLY ENDORSED THEM.
HE ADDED THAT THE FOUR MAJOR EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATIONS HAD ALSO BEEN CONSULTED AND ALL HAD EXPRESSED AGREEMENT TO THE PROPOSALS.
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