WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1978
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYING MORE DISABLED PERSONS
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THE NUMBER OF PHYSICALLY DISABLED PERSONS EMPLOYED IN THE CIVIL SERVICE AS ON APRIL 1 THIS YEAR WAS 451, AN INCREASE OF 49 COMPARED WITH 402 EMPLOYED LAST YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON. MARTIN ROWLANDS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
ANSWERING A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN,
MR. ROWLANDS SAID THAT THE FIGURES REFERRED TO THE NUMBER OF PERSONS RECORDED AS PHYSICALLY DISABLED ON FIRST APPOINTMENT. THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF PHYSICALLY DISABLED PERSONS EMPLOYED IN THE CIVIL SERVICE IS CERTAINLY HIGHER IF ONE TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE MANY OFFICERS WHO HAVE SUFFERED IMPAIRMENT SINCE FIRST APPOINTMENT,+ MR. ROWLANDS SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE ALSO EMPLOYS AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM MINOR MENTAL OR EDUCATIONAL IMPAIRMENT.
MATERNITY PROTECTION FOR PREGNANT WORKERS ADEQUATE
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THE IMPROVEMENT OF WORKING CONDITIONS AND TERMS OF SERVICE CONFERRING MATERNITY BENEFITS TO PREGNANT WORKERS, AS OPPOSED TO PROTECTION, SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE A MATTER OF NEGOTIATION AND AGREEMENT BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. NEIL HENDERSON, SAID TODAY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. ANDREW SO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. HENDERSON SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS IN GENERAL SATISFIED THAT THE MATERNITY PROTECTION PROVISIONS UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WERE ADEQUATE.
THE PROVISIONS INCLUDE LEAVE BEFORE AND AFTER EACH CONFINEMENT; AN ADDITIONAL PERIOD OF LEAVE IF ILLNESS OR DISABILITY ARISES; CONTINUITY OF SERVICE, AND PROHIBITING TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT DURING MATERNITY LEAVE, HE SAID.
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