9
ON
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1977
SAFETY INTERESTS OF EMPLOYEES DURING TROPICAL STORMS
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A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY ADVISED EMPLOYERS TO ACT WITH COMMON SENSE WITH REGARD TO THE SAFETY INTERESTS OF THE IR EMPLOYEES DURING OR ON THE APPROACH OF A TROPICAL STORM, ALTHOUGH THE LAW DOES NOT LAY DOWN ANY PARTICULAR PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW ON SUCH OCCASIONS,
+TO AVOID CONFUSION, HE SAID, +EMPLOYERS SHOULD REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH THEIR EMPLOYEES ON THE RULES FOR WORK, AND THE RELEASE FROM WORK, DURING OR ON THE APPROACH OF A TROPICAL STORM.+
+SUCH AN AGREEMENT SHOULD INCLUDE THE METHOD OF CALCULATING WAGES TO BE PAID UNDER VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN WAS COMMENTING ON THE EXPERIENCE OF PREVIOUS YEARS WHEN THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT RECEIVED MANY ENQUIRIES DURING THE TYPHOON SEASON FROM EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES SEEKING ADVICE ON THE SUBJECT,
+BASICALLY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, IT IS A MATTER OF DECISION BETWEEN EACH EMPLOYER AND HIS EMPLOYÉES, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE NATURE OF EMPLOYMENT AND THE INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE'S PLACE OF RESIDENCE, AVAILABILITY OF TRANSPORT AND OTHER FACTORS.
+CONFUSION OR EVEN DISPUTES CAN ARISE IF THERE IS A LACK OF PRIOR UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES AS TO WHAT TO DO WHEN A STORM IS COMING, HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED THAT THE IMPORTANT THING TO CONSIDER ON SUCH OCCASIONS IS THE EMPLOYEES' SAFETY BOTH AT THE PLACE OF WORK AND DURING THE JOURNEY TO AND FROM HOME.
+FOR EXAMPLE, FIRMS SHOULD SEND THE IR EMPLOYEES HOME WHEN WARNING SIGNAL NUMBER EIGHT OR HIGHER IS HOISTED, OR WHEN SUSPENSION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES IS IMMINENT.
+OF COURSE, EMPLOYEES WHO ARE REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL AND EMERGENCY DUTIES DURING A TROPICAL STORM WOULD BE EXCEPTIONS, HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT EMPLOYERS COULD ALWAYS APPROACH THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT FOR APPROPRIATE ADVICE WHEN DRAFTING OR PREPARING THEIR AGREEMENTS CONCERNING ARRANGEMENTS.
THE SERVICE OPERATES IN THE FOLLOWING SIX BRANCH OFFICES OF THE DEPARTMENT:
* HONG KONG
HONG KONG
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