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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1977
BILL TO PROVIDE FURTHER BENEFITS TO INJURED WORKERS RECEIVES UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM UNOFFICIALS
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A BILL WHICH WILL PROVIDE FURTHER BENEFITS TO INJURED WORKERS RECEIVED UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR,
THE HON. PETER WILLIAMS GAVE AN ASSURANCE THAT THE DAILY RATES OF MEDICAL EXPENSES PAYABLE BY EMPLOYERS UNDER THE BILL WOULD BE KEPT UNDER REGULAR REVIEW BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES AND WOULD BE REVISED AS NECESSARY.
HE SAID THE ENACTMENT OF THE BILL WOULD BE ANOTHER VERY BENEFICIAL STEP FORWARD FOR THE WELFARE OF HONG KONG'S WORKFORCE AND THUS THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
THE HON. WONG LAM SAID, THE UNOFFICIALS SUPPORTED THE BILL +AS WE FEEL THAT THE VARIOUS AMENDMENTS PROPOSED WILL CERTAINLY MEET AN URGENT NEED AND WILL FILL SOME OF THE LOOPHOLES IN THE EXISTING LABOUR LEGISLATION. +
+AT THE SAME TIME, HE ADDED, WE WELCOME THE PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR OF AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING PARTY TO UNDERTAKE A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE.+
HE SAID THE VIEWS OF THE AD HOC GROUP FORMED TO STUDY THE BILL, WERE SUPPORTED BY UNOFFICIALS AND WERE BROADLY AS FOLLOWS:
* THE PROPOSAL TO REQUIRE AN EMPLOYER TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MEDICAL EXPENSES INCURRED BY A WORKMAN WHO IS
INJURED DURING THE COURSE OF HIS EMPLOYMENT IS REASONABLE. AT PRESENT, THE MEDICAL EXPENSES INCURRED BY A WORKER ARE EITHER SETTLED BY THE WORKER HIMSELF OR ARE WAIVED BY THE GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL CONCERNED, IN WHICH CASE IT IS REALLY THE TAXPAYERS WHO FOOT THE BILL FOR HIS EMPLOYER. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY UNFAIR.
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IT IS REASONABLE IN PRINCIPLE TO STIPULATE CLEARLY AN
EMPLOYER'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR, AND THE CONDITIONS RELATING TO, A WORKMAN'S MEDICAL EXPENSES, AND TO PRESCRIBE THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE EMPLOYER MAY BE EXEMPTED FROM GIVING CASH REIMBURSEMENT.
THE PROPOSAL THAT, IN THE EVENT OF DISPUTE OVER THE LIABILITY TO PAY MEDICAL EXPENSES OR THE AMOUNT OF THE MEDICAL EXPENSES, THE WORKMAN OR THE EMPLOYER MAY APPLY TO TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE DISPUTE IS ALSO VERY APPROPRIATE.
WE ENTIRELY AGREE THAT IF AN EMPLOYER FAILS TO PAY MEDICAL EXPENSES TO HIS WORKMAN 21 DAYS AFTER SUCH PAYMENT IS DUE, THE WORKMAN MAY SEEK TO RECOVER THE MEDICAL EXPENSES AS A CIVIL DEBT IN THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL.
ALSO SPEAKING