1
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1978
STATUTORY HOLIDAY REMINDER
******
THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. NE IL HENDERSON, TODAY (THURSDAY) REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE THE DAY OF THE CHINESE WINTER SOLSTICE FESTIVAL (WHICH FALLS ON DECEMBER 22) AND CHRISTMAS DAY (DECEMBER 25) HAS BEEN APPOINTED ALTERNATIVELY AS ONE OF THE 10 STATUTORY HOLIDAYS AND WORKERS MUST BE GIVEN EITHER ONE OF THESE TWO DAYS OFF.
MR. HENDERSON EMPHASISED THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE APPLIED TO ALL EMPLOYEES WHEREVER THEY WORK.
UNDER THE ORDINANCE, ALL MANUAL EMPLOYEES WITHOUT DISTINCTION, INCLUDING DOMESTIC SERVANTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE IR EARNINGS, AND ALL NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES EARNING NOT MORE THAN $2,000 A MONTH, ARE ENTITLED TO THE HOLIDAY.
THEY MUST ALSO BE PAID FOR THE DAY OFF IF THEY HAVE WORKED CONTINUOUSLY FOR THE IR EMPLOYERS FOR THREE MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE STATUTORY HOLD JAY.
IF AN EMPLOYEE IS REQUIRED TO WORK ON A STATUTORY HOLIDAY, HE MUST BE GIVEN AN ALTERNATIVE DAY-OFF WITHIN 60 DAYS BEFORE OR AFTER THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY.
IF THE ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY IS TO BE GRANTED BEFORE THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY, THE EMPLOYER MUST NOTIFY THE EMPLOYEE 48 HOURS
IN ADVANCE OF THE ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY.
IN THE CASE WHERE AN ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY IS TO BE GIVEN AFTER THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY, THE EMPLOYEE MUST BE NOTIFIED OF THE ARRANGEMENT AT LEAST 48 HOURS BEFORE THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY.
IF THE EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE AGREE, ANY DAY WITHIN 30 DAYS OF A STATUTORY HOLIDAY OR ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY MAY BE TAKEN BY THE EMPLOYEE AS A SUBSTITUTED HOLIDAY.
FOR EASY REFERENCE BY BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES THE 10 STATUTORY HOLIDAYS FOR THE COMING YEAR ARE:
*
*
JANUARY 1 (THE FIRST DAY OF JANUARY)- JANUARY 28, 29 AND 30 (LUNAR NEW YEAR'S DAY, AND THE SECOND AND THIRD DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR RESPECTIVELY – IF JANUARY 28, WHICH FALLS ON A SUNDAY, HAPPENS TO BE AN EMPLOYEE'S REST DAY THEN JANUARY 31 OR ANOTHER DAY SHOULD ALSO BE GRANTED AS A HOLIDAY IN LIEU)=
APRIL 5 (CHING MING FESTIVAL DAY)-
* MAY 30 (TUEN NG OR DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL):
* OCTOBER 6 (THE DAY FOLLOWING MID AUTUMN FESTIVAL) -
* OCTOBER 29 (CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL DAY), AND
* DECEMBER 22.....