FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1977
FURTHER BENEFITS TO INJURED WORKERS PROPOSED
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A BILL WHICH SEEKS TO PROVIDE FURTHER BENEFITS TO INJURED WORKMEN WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1977, IF APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, WILL REQUIRE EMPLOYERS TO PAY MEDICAL EXPENSES RELATED TO TREATMENT FOR INJURIES SUFFERED BY THEIR EMPLOYEES IN THE COURSE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT.
A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT AT PRESENT THERE WAS NO LEGISLATIVE PROVISION ENTITLING AN INJURED WORKMAN TO MEDICAL CARE OR MAKING THE EMPLOYER RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH EXPENSES.
UNDER THE BILL, AN INJURED WORKMEN WILL BE ENTITLED TO CLAIM MEDICAL EXPENSES ACTUALLY INCURRED UP TO A MAXIMUM CALCULATED AT THE RATE OF $10 EACH DAY FOR OUT-PATIENT TREATMENT AND $20 EACH DAY FOR IN-PATIENT CARE IN A HOSPITAL.
THE BILL ALSO PROPOSED THAT AN INJURED WORKER SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO CLAIM MEDICAL EXPENSES FOR A MAXIMUM PERIOD OF 24 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE INJURY BY WHICH TIME HE SHOULD EITHER BE CURED OF HIS INJURY OR BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR PERMANENT INCAPACITY.
+THE PROPOSALS, IF ENACTED, WILL ENABLE HONG KONG TO COMPLY FULLY WITH INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONVENTION NO. 17 (WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (ACCIDENTS) CONVENTION) IN RESPECT OF ARTICLE 9.+ SAID THE SPOKESMAN,
HE DISCLOSED THAT A STUDY BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT INJURY BENEFITS IN SEVEN NEIGHBOURING ASIAN COUNTRIES SHOWED THAT ALL OF THEM PROVIDED MEDICAL CARE AND ALLIED BENEFITS IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, EITHER AS AN EMPLOYER'S LIABILITY OR THROUGH INSURANCE SCHEMES TO WHICH EMPLOYERS WERE REQUIRED TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID: + IF EMPLOYERS HERE WERE TO BE MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES, HONG KONG WOULD BE PLACED IN A COMPARABLE POSITION WITH ITS NEIGHBOURS.+
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