WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 1977
+IN FACT,+ SAID MR. WILLIAMS, THE IMPROVEMENTS IN SEVERANCE PAY SHOULD BRING ABOUT A MORE COMPACT AND EFFICIENT WORK FORCE INSIDE EACH ESTABLISHMENT. +
MR. WILLIAMS SAID HE SUPPORTED DR. CHUNG 'S REFERENCE TO THE SECTION OF THE ORDINANCE DEALING WITH AN EMPLOYEE'S ENTITLEMENT TO SEVERANCE PAY WHEN HE IS ALSO ENTITLED TO A GRATUITY BASED UPON LENGTH OF SERVICE OR A PROVIDENT FUND SCHEME.
+IN SUCH A CASE, HE SAID, THE SEVERANCE PAYMENT IS REDUCED BY THE AMOUNT OF GRATUITY OR PROVIDENT FUND. THOSE EMPLOYERS WHO SET UP THE IR OWN PROVIDENT FUNDS FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES, THEREBY DIMINISH ANY DIFFICULTIES THAT MIGHT ARISE OVER SEVERANCE PAY.+
MR. WILLIAMS CONTINUED: +AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE CALCULATION OF SEVERANCE PAY FOR TIME OR PIECE-RATED EMPLOYEES WAS THE NUMBER OF DAYS INVOLVED.
+UNDER THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE, WORKERS ARE ENTITLED TO ONE REST DAY A WEEK. ON THE OTHER HAND WEEKLY REST DAYS ARE NOT BY STATUTE REQUIRED TO BE PAID AND AN EMPLOYEE MAY OPT TO WORK ON HIS REST DAY, AT THE REQUEST OF HIS EMPLOYER.
+CONSEQUENTLY WITHIN A PERIOD OF HALF A MONTH, NON-MONTHLY PAID WORKERS WOULD NORMALLY WORK AND BE PAID FOR 13 DAYS. THIRTEEN DAYS' WAGES ARE THEREFORE CONSIDERED EQUIVALENT TO HALF A MONTH'S PAY FOR NON-MONTHLY PAID WORKERS,+
+THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, SAID MR. WILLIAMS, +IS YET ANOTHER MEASURE OF THE SUCCESS OF OUR INDUSTRIALISATION PROCESS. THE COMMENTS MADE BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS THIS AFTERNOON WILL BE OF CONSIDERABLE ASSISTANCE TO US ALL IN DEALING WITH THIS PROCESS.+
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. JOHN HOBLEY, IN REPLY TO THE POINT RAISED BY MR. LO ON THE PRINCIPLES WHICH GUIDE THE GOVERNMENT IN RELATION TO RETROSPECTIVE LEGISLATION, SAID HE COULD ONLY SAY IN THE TIME THAT HAD BEEN AVAILABLE HE COULD NOT POSSIBLY GIVE A FULL GENERAL ANSWER TO THE IMPORTANT QUESTION.
HE SAID HOWEVER THAT HE DID NOT CONSIDER ANYTHING IN THE BILL
WAS RETROSPECTIVE IN A WAY WHICH OFFENDS AGAINST THE PRINCIPLES.+
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